Madam, - Further to your report of November 14th and the letter from Morgan Cooke and others (November 17th), might I , as somebody who worked in just about every capacity from author to director and general dogsbody in that theatre for around 30 years, point out that the Taibhdhearc had national recognition long before the (soon to be ex-) artistic director Mr Mac An Iomaire was born?
Contrary to the opinion of his followers, the most artistic and successful period in the 77-year history of that institution was undoubtedly that from the late 1960s to the late 1970s, when guest directors such as Alan Simpson, Frank Dermody and Sean Ó Briain, as well as in-house directors such as Sean Stafford, at the invitation of the board of the Taibhdhearc regularly enthralled capacity audiences.
Change can sometimes be for the better, and perhaps the Taibhdhearc board and its policy should be given a chance to succeed or fail before being condemned out of hand by those with a vested interest. - Is mise,
RISTEARD Ó BROIN, Craughwell, Co Galway.