Sir, - Regarding the University Bill I agree with Shane Ross and Professor Fanning. The McQuaid crozier was across Trinity's door when we were students so three of us went to UCD and one to Surgeons.
According to the Bill, the Minister for Education, Niamh Breathnach, can send in her foot soldiers and even dismiss the Provost. I regard the Minister as a loose cannon and not a cap square in sight, not that the Minister would know what a cap square was.
After the war I was in a London book shop and met a publisher there. The sending of a copy of all books printed in the UK came up. He was emphatic that if there was a major change in Trinity's charter the books would not be sent.
We in UCD always admired the close mixing of students and professors. It opened new vistas for the students. Trinity was probably the leading university in the classics. One has only to read Ulick O'Connor's biography of Gogarty to see what I mean. As Steinbeck said in Cannery Row, "It was a stink, a poem, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia and a dream". The dream is about to be smashed. Yours, etc.,
Marine Villa,
Rosbeg,
Westport,
Co Mayo.