Sir, - Regarding the controversy raging over Francis Stuart, Saoi, and certain calls upon artists of integrity to resign from Aosdana; I have no intention of resigning.
Some years back, I put it up to Aosdana that the institution of Saoi should be abolished, because of all the maggots liable to come out of the woodwork when names were proposed. I instanced two reasons (from my own experience) which would force me to object to particular individuals becoming Saois: (1) Nazi sympathies, and (2) sexual abuse of children/paedophilia.
The response was an overwhelming support for the status quo. A minority supported me; and Sam Beckett was not one of them. Art is Art and Life is Life... The honour of Saoi is now discreetly bestowed, with only selected members of Aosdana invited.
The make up of Aosdana is no different from the rest of society. Except that the hype surrounding art and artists has replaced the now tarnished image of the Catholic religion and its clerics.
Until all of us place a higher value on the art of living than on art work as a commodity, the raising up and casting down of false gods and goddesses, will continue. It is sheer defeatism to resign from Aosdana; one might as well resign from life itself. Yours, etc.,
Member of Aosdana,
St Bridget's Place Lower,
Galway.