Sir, - The 2001 Patrick McGill Summer School, based in the writer's birthplace of Glenties, Co Donegal, considered the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in Ireland. It was a brave choice by the organising committee and their courage and insight was rewarded by a series of memorable meetings, marked by some startling insights and challenging statements.
We heard the views of a range of authoritative figures from areas as diverse as religion, politics, sport, social services, medicine and policing. Audiences were left in no doubt about the dire downside of the Celtic Tiger. While there was much reflection on the suffering caused by cannabis, ecstacy and heroin, alcohol emerged as the chief culprit in social dissolution.
The speakers and audiences gathered at Glenties pulled no punches. They were robust in condemning the paucity of the Government's response to the crisis. They questioned the role of RT╔ and others in promoting alcohol through unreal and glamorous advertisements and they wondered if the GAA had not been guilty of dangerous ambivalence in linking sporting achievement with drink.
This radical questioning of the establishment sits well with the spirit of McGill's writings and will, one hopes, be a constant feature of this fine summer school, which this year celebrates its 21st birthday.
I would also hope that the conclusions reached last week affect Government policy, media attitudes and public perceptions generally. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Pat McDonnell, Dromore, Co Tyrone.