Sir, - Dudley Smith (January 25th) need not fear that Gaels are contemplating a "final solution" for non Gaels. Most of the c. 180,000 Gaels, or aspiring Gaels, who watch T na G are not greater or lesser mortals than Dudley Smith.
The truth is that the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland are only interested in survival - against the odds - and in a modicum of mutual respect. Indeed, it is they who can claim to have had a whiff of the "final solution" long before the technology of the gas chamber emerged. In the case of the Gaels of the Scottish Highlands, their fate was to be replaced by sheep - this announced by a blind seer who went from village to village proclaiming, "Mo thrua ort, a thir, la an chaora mhor ag teacht" (Woe to thee, my country, the great sheep is coming).
In the case of the Irish Gaels - identified chiefly by their ancient language and customs - we can refer to An Act for the English Order, Habite and Language (1537) which stated "That every person or persons, the king's true subjects, inhabiting the land of Ireland, of what estate, condition or degree he or they be, or shall be, to the uttermost of their power, cunning and knowledge, shall use and speak the English tongue and language.
The vast majority of Gaels wish only to lead a dignified, meaningful life in which their language and culture can survive. Surely Dudley Smith can sympathise with this modest and unthreatening aspiration? - is me agat go buioch beannachtach,
Gleann na gCaorach,
Co Atha Cliath.