Sir, - My heart warms when I read the likes of Kevin Myers refer to Teilifis na Gaeilge as being yet another white elephant. Indeed the board of Teilifis na Gaeilge should be greatly encouraged by all the negativity surrounding the concept of an Irish language television station!
Since the foundation of the State, our white elephant list has, included such beauties as Sean Lemass's Shannon Free Airport, Dermot Desmond's IFSC Centre, Harry Crosby's Point Depot and Monsignor Horan's Knock Airport - all of which have become unprecedented successes. Long live the white elephant!
Corkman Edwin Cussen's letter (May 31st) attempts to use the fact that Teilifis na Gaeilge will be watched by a small minority on this island, as reason to scrap the concept. If the same logic were to be applied to several other areas of life on this island, then we would close Cork Airport (the majority of passengers use Shannon and Dublin), we would discontinue RTE Radio Cork (totally irreverent to those living outside Cork) and we would close Fota Wildlife Park (we have a fine zoo in Dublin, for God's sake!).
This country would now be the proverbial white elephant were it not for Europe deciding to support minority projects, such as the development of Ireland. We do not hear our German colleagues complaining about the cost to them of the Dunkettle Roundabout and the fact that less than one per cent of the population of Europe will ever drive around it. Likewise, we should refrain from knocking the development of such projects as Teilifis na Gaeilge - even if they are for the minority. - Yours, etc.,
Tinerana,
Killaloe, Co. Clare.