Madam, - It is difficult to take seriously a short-list of Ireland's greatest novels (Weekend Review, September 27th) that doesn't include even one of the works of Benedict Kiely. It is comforting, though, that Kiely was recognised by Colum McCann who chose the powerful Nothing Happens in Carmincross as one of his three favourites. Mention of McCann causes one to wonder why his marvellous book This Side of Brightness also was omitted from the list. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL FINLAN, Curraghgreen, Galway.