Sir, – I wish to express my utter astonishment and dismay at the publication of Nuala Ní Conchuir’s short story Poisson d’Avril (Weekend Review, July 21st) in what was always thought of as a clean, respectable family newspaper.
The contrived subject matter – the thinly veiled bearded 33-year-old Christ (Christophe) and Mary Magdalen (Madeleine), Holy Week, The Last Supper, Judas, the Passion and Resurrection, etc – was little more than porn, a sacrilegious parody that was totally reprehensible, the sex connotations totally tasteless and unnecessary. Or did the author think all this clever?
There are certain publications that cater for this kind of pointless salaciousness. But your readers deserve better and if it is what my beloved Irish Times has descended to, well God help Ireland. – Yours, etc,