Sir, - Like Kevin Donegan (August 28th), I too was trawled through the vagaries of Rotha M≤r an tSaol and Peig during my school years of the 1960s and 1970s. Now , however, I wish had paid more attention to my Irish classes during those years.
Having travelled the world for a few years, during which time I made a decent hand at learning Arabic, Tagalogue and other languages, I now take my holidays in Dingle, Co Kerry, and with great glee in the mornings, I head to the local siopa and do my business in faltering Irish. I take great pleasure in listening to the locals speaking in our native tongue, and feel honoured to be able to understand one of the rarest languages in the world. - Yours, etc.,
Ruth O'Sullivan, Farranlea Park, Cork.