Sir, - Michael O'Loughlin provides an interesting commentary (January 26th) on what it is like to return to Ireland amidst the Celtic Tiger frenzy which now dements our country. However, I take issue with him when he lumps U2 in with Boyzone. If there is one artistic phenomenon for which the last 20 years will be remembered it is U2. From 1984 to 1991, they produced music which, though it didn't change the world, certainly changed the music world. What's more, it showed the disillusioned youth of an anaemic country that there was nothing stopping them from conquering their own worlds. Fifteen years later, hope has paid dividends.
One of the less desirable dividends is Boyzone. To be frank, Boyzone is an unwitting monster which has been fostered and fattened on the lap of various entertainment industry gurus. It is the true symbol of contemporary "nice" Ireland which is cool, vacuous and possessed by an enormously infectious self-delusion i.e. that style and money are all that matters. The tragedy is that this delusion is rapidly becoming a truism. - Is mise,
C. Meade, Dublin 7.