Madam, – I’m trying to make sense of the purpose of Tom Humphries’ article April 27th (Lockerroom, Sports Monday), “Seeking to make sense of a world ruled by rugby”. Is this unintelligible article meant to be satire or is it just paranoid jealous sports xenophobia, which it comes across as?
Good satire is an art and should not make a reader cringe, it should also attempt to amuse without offending; whereas Tom Humphries successfully manages to do the opposite by raising the cringe factor while offending without amusing.
The purpose of a ranting forum such as Tom Humphries’ platform in the sports section of a balanced newspaper is lost on me, but maybe as an Irishman I’m too ignorant of all things Irish to understand all the things that qualify me as a real Irishman.
Maybe I just live in the wrong part of Leinster, just like the Munster supporters who live in the wrong part of Limerick . . . what a seemingly weird and wonderful Irish world Mr Humphries inhabits . . . if only I could make sense of it! – Yours, etc,
PETER BURKE,
Blacklion Manor,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.
Madam, – Tom Humphries’ recent missive, while humorous, is a little bit of a worry. As a terrific commentator on a wide range of professional sports, surely he can recognise the phenomenon for what it is, a highly effective long-term campaign to establish a professional sport and seek to win the hearts and minds of the consumers? In this it differs in no way from the ongoing efforts of the GAA and the FAI to protect and develop their patches.
The one common thread that runs through all these sports across the island of Ireland is that most involvement is voluntary, for no reward and with no motive other than participation and enjoyment – in that they all enhance the quality of lives and the communities in which they operate.
Lighten up Tom! – Yours, etc,
JOHN MEAGHER,
The Stiles Road,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Madam, – Maybe Tom Humphries doesn’t know it, but the GAA was founded by a rugby player. Michael Cusack taught in Blackrock College, where he invented a form of “football” which permitted the use of the hands.
This was to facilitate students who were required to wear soutanes. He played rugby (and cricket) for Phoenix and never lost his love for rugby – any more than Dev ever did. – Yours, etc,
P THOMAS MURRAY,
Casimir Avenue,
Harold’s Cross,
Dublin 6W.
Madam, – On Easter Sunday last in Toulouse, my wife and I attended High Mass in the cathedral. We talked afterwards to a priest who was one of the concelebrants. On learning we were from Ireland he immediately said, “Ah, champions d’Europe!” Obviously no inhibitions, begrudgery, or nit-picking in clerical circles in the rugby-mad south of France as to Ireland’s Grand Slam achievement. Yours, etc,
BRIAN P COYLE,
Boyne Road,
Navan,
Co Meath.
Madam, – Fair play to Tom Humphries for kicking the rugby crowd into touch.
I haven’t enjoyed a good auld rant like that for a long time. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE McCLOSKEY,
Shorrolds Road,
Fulham,
London.