A chara, - It is good to note that Kevin Myers, despite his problems with "bean" and "mna" (An Irishman's Diary, September 18th) has managed to master - to an extent - a language which offers such delights as "go" and "went".
In fact, to his credit, he has, over the years, succeeded in toning down his early non-Joycean excesses of verbosity to a more mature, even recognisable, style.
Content is, however, another matter. As a columnist, he finds analysis unnecessary. "He draweth out the threat of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument", as Shakespeare might have put it. Press the buttons, roll out the shibboleths, and one is bound to find resonances somewhere in the readership. But, of course, that is why he is only a columnist. Otherwise, he would be a writer.
Analysis can be offered. But would he listen? After all, our invitation to him some years ago to speak at a bilingual meeting on the PD party paper on Irish was not even extended the courtesy of a reply. One wonders why. - Is mise,
Helen O Murchu, Stiurthoir, Comhar na Muinteoiri Gaeilge, Cearnog Mhuinfean, Baile Atha Cliath 2.