British and Irish Lions

Madam, – Why don’t we just call a spade a spade: the British and West British Lions. – Yours, etc.,

Maj DONALD ASTUN (Ret.),

Castleknock,

Dublin 15.

Madam, – There’s an element of wishful thinking about Irish newspapers’ invariable use of “and Irish” in the title of the “British and Irish Lions” title. Outside of Ireland, few bother with the “and Irish” bit.

However, that aside, from the time of Richard the Lionheart, “Lions” is a heraldic symbol mostly associated with England (three lions feature on the English football and cricket jerseys).

I doubt if any patriotic Englishman would wish to be associated with a combined “Shamrocks” or “Dragons” side. Let’s move with the times and simply call the combined team the “Four Nations”. – Yours, etc,