Sir, - Regarding Jim Dunne's entertaining review of my book, Dunne - People and Places (December 28th), I would appreciate the opportunity to make a few comments.
My book shows that the clan is directly descended from Cathaoir Mor, a second century monarch of Ireland. This is based on the annotated Annals of the Four Masters and other reliable sources.
Jim comments that,"Needless to say, the notorious Dunne criminal gang in Dublin is passed over in silence", and also that "Rather too much of the Dunnes' contribution to religion pervades the book". The proper place for the crime stories is the newspapers, not the history books. The former are discarded immediately, the latter mature like a good wine. The criminals will disappear without trace, whereas Mother Amadeus Dunne will always be the Foundress of the Ursulines in Montana and Alaska.
For the curious reader the book is published by Ballinakella Press, Whitegate, Co. Clare. - Yours, etc.,
Sliabh Gorm,
Carrigeendaniel,
Caherslee, Co Kerry.