Sir, – In his match report on Ireland versus Armenia Ken Early rightly questions the “FAI’s obsession with hiring solo singers to turn our marching-band national anthem into a morale-sapping dirge,” and with that he has hit the nail on the proverbial head (“Do we even want to go to the World Cup playing like this,” October 15th).
Our national anthem is indeed a “marching-band” anthem and played at the right pace it is right up there with La Marseillaise or Il Canto degli Italiani, it can be stirring and inspiring.
As I listened yesterday evening, I thought Ken Early was being generous in describing it as a “dirge”.
I couldn’t help thinking of the actual lyrics of the whole song especially a line in verse one when we are supposed to be “impatient for the coming fight”.
RM Block
I live in Germany and back at the World Cup in 2002 when we drew with Germany thanks to Robbie Keane’s last-minute goal, the local newspaper here was profuse in its praise of the Irish team and its never-say-die spirit and actually quoted lines from Amhrán na bhFiann.
The most stirring version of our national anthem that I have ever heard was the game in Croke Park in 2005 when our rugby team played England and the Army and Garda bands plus the fans gave us such an electrifying performance.
We do not need solo vocalists to “lead” the fans in the singing, the FAI should either provide a band or simply play a stirring version of the anthem and let the fans sing along. It is time to reclaim the anthem for the fans. – Yours, etc,
Séamus McClelland,
Konstanz ,
Germany.
Girl talk,
boy talk
Sir, – I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the comments from the new school principal of Castleknock College suggesting that there’s “nothing actually else out there” for teenage boys besides faith and spirituality (“Boys-only Dublin private school appoints first woman principal in 190-year history,” October 14th).
Coming from the head of an all-boys school, the remarks feel especially dated, implying that young men can only be guided by faith or fear rather than curiosity and critical thinking.
It’s 2025. Teenagers can scroll TikTok and study astrophysics, message friends and volunteer, read, reflect, question and decide for themselves what they believe – or don’t.
The idea that spiritual fulfilment is the only antidote to screen time belongs in the same drawer as the Nokia 3310. What schools should be offering is not moral panic but meaningful education, one that fosters empathy, digital awareness and independent thought, not guilt trips disguised as guidance.
Perhaps it’s time to have a little more faith in our young people and a little less sermonising about their screens. – Yours, etc,
AOIFE CASSIDY,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – In responding to Jen Hogan’s article, I’d like to reiterate that Elaine Kelly’s appointment as principal of Castleknock College is a milestone worth celebrating.
Yet the coverage of her views also highlights how harmful gender generalisations continue to shape our conversations about education.
Kelly’s portrayal of girls as “diligent but anxious” and boys as “relaxed,” but in need of “routine” and “structure,” reinforces stereotypes we should be moving beyond.
These distinctions suggest that boys and girls are fundamentally different kinds of learners, rather than complex individuals shaped by the rigid gendered expectations still placed on them every day.
Framing boys’ spiritual revival as an antidote to technology’s emptiness also overlooks religion’s long history of moralising male authority – the very logic that kept women from leadership roles for centuries.
True progress in education will come not only when women lead schools, but when we stop defining students through the limiting language of gender difference.
From a highly anxious and (I thought) diligent former schoolboy. – Yours, etc.
SAMUEL ROGERS,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
A hornet’s nest
Sir, – Will the Asian hornet captured in Dundonald (Home News, October 15th) qualify for early release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement? – Yours, etc,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,
Dublin 24.
The greening of the Government
Sir, – Brian Leddin (“Why I resigned from the Green Party over its backing of Catherine Connolly,” October 14th), enumerates a long list of reasons why he won’t be voting for Catherine Connolly, and why he believes that the Green Party’s endorsement of her candidacy means that he can no longer stay in the party.
But what he pointedly fails to do is explain why he thinks Heather Humphreys is a better candidate for someone like himself, up until a couple of days ago a Green politician.
What has he seen, either in her actions or words, or in those of the parties currently in government that do endorse her, to make him believe that his environmental convictions will be better-served?
All the evidence is pointing towards this Government failing to deliver on existing emissions commitments, and remarks from Ministers and the Taoiseach indicate very little appetite for promoting the kinds of changes that will take us in the right direction on climate, water quality or biodiversity.
Obviously Mr Leddin can vote how he chooses, but there’s little from his explanation to think that his vote, or his future political leanings, will improve Ireland’s environmental trajectory. – Yours , etc,
DAVE MATHIESON,
Salthill,
Galway.
Presidency issues
Sir, – Under Article 4 of the Constitution, the supreme command of the Defence Forces is vested in the president. Catherine Connolly is a self-declared pacifist and is critical of fellow European member states for investing in their armed forces to resist Russian aggression.
Am I alone in my concern about a potential conflict between the views of the candidate and the constitutional role of the president? – Yours, etc,
RUTH BARRINGTON,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Reading Fintan O’Toole’s latest commentary on the presidential race (“A Catherine Connolly presidency would be an alternative to official Ireland,” October 14th), he was doing great until he got to the line: “... until 2032, a time so distant that it is vaguely possible Dublin will have a Metro by then” – at which point he lost me completely. – Yours, etc.
FRANK E. BANNISTER,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – The presidential election has turned into a farce.
It would be a good idea to postpone it for a few months and put Bob Geldof’s name forward.
That would sort it. He would walk it. – Yours, etc,
ANNE FLEMING,
Blackpool,
Cork.
Sir, – Is there any possibility that the various media journalists interviewing the presidential candidates could actually change the questions? Having seen and listened to all all the so-called “debates “ it is a case of “Groundhog day” interviews .
Not only are the listeners exhausted imagine how the candidates must feel. – Yours, etc,
MIKE MORAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – I am angered by the way that my native language has been weaponised during the presidential election campaign.
It belittles both the proponent and the language. – Yours, etc,
MAUREEN McGROARY
MEEHAN,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.
Taking a cut at Trinity College
Sir, – You may want to update your file photographs of Trinity College Dublin ? (“TCD professor ‘quite surprised’ by Department meeting with Chinese human rights body,” October 14th).
The article features a photo of the first inner courtyard of the college, with neat, green and pleasant lawns. These lawns did once exist, but today they are no more.
As with the lawns at the main front gate on College Green, they have been replaced by tall, wild, overgrown weeds, of which the college authorities are strangely very proud.
That said, the choice of photo is oddly in keeping with the subject of the article.
The Chinese Communist Party wants us to admire a beautiful picture of their administration, where everything is pretty. – Yours, etc,
CIARÁN Mac GUILL,
Clichy,
France.
Turner’s turn
Sir, – I rarely doubt that the Irish Times habitually has its finger on the pulse even when I’m in total disagreement with your point of view.
In terms of sensitivity levels, however, there are few if any more perceptive of pulse palpitations than Martyn Turner.
You can take any of his cartoons or group of cartoons and immediately appreciate the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
I am still venerating his three cartoons of recent days (October 10th, 11th and 15th) pertaining to Donald Trump’s “Gaza peace deal”.
Exceptional! – Yours etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny.
Pyschotherapy controversy
Sir, – The regulator for health and safety, Coru, states compulsory therapy for psychotherapy students can have negative effects for them and can cause “distress”. (“Psychotherapy regulator cited ‘wider implications’ in rejecting personal therapy proposal,” October 9th).
Coru also suggests there is “insufficient evidence” a student’s personal therapy “provides a benefit to students or ultimately their clients”.
Coru’s statement of “insufficient evidence” is wrong. The Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) has submitted detailed reports to the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, of how a psychotherapy trainee’s own personal therapy is a crucial element in current psychotherapy training programmes.
Coru is failing to recognise how pivotal it is for trainee psychotherapists to explore their own emotions deeply.
Through this process, the psychotherapist’s complex understanding of themselves enables them to separate their own emotions, be more centred, and tune into their patients effectively. If a trainee psychotherapist cannot face themselves and work through challenges in their own therapy then they are not mentally equipped to be a psychotherapist.
This is why personal therapy is one of the pinnacle parts of psychotherapy training.
By Coru removing the mandatory need for one’s own therapy as part of psychotherapy training how can we expect future therapists to work with and sit with the vulnerable?
Coru’s psychotherapy regulations are endangering future patients. – Yours, etc,
ELIZABETH MULVIN,
Secretary of the Irish Forum of
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.
Dún Laoghaire,
Dublin
Price gouging
Sir, – The Taoiseach Micheál Martin says that energy companies will keep “gouging” customers if the Government keeps providing credits to domestic customers,
The Government has cut all subsidies towards people’s energy bills and yet, it has been giving massive “credits” to the construction industry in the form of various subsidies over a number of years, most recently a 4.5 per cent VAT cut.
However, it has not put a mechanism in place to ensure these generous subsidies are actually passed on to the home purchaser in the form of reduced prices.
How does giving a subsidy to consumers for their electricity billallow price gouging by suppliers, but doing the same for the construction industry does not?
And perhaps most importantly of all, what is the Taoiseach, as leader of our Government, going to do about it?
Wringing his hands and saying “it’s terrible, isn’t it, ” is not taking action. – Yours, etc.
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
Gone, but not forgotten
Sir, – I was interested to read the recent letter of Robert P Gogan regarding “Ireland not in a terrible State (Letters, October 14th).
He rightly espoused the many achievements of the Republic and its present status in Europe and the world. He goes on to give many examples, both in sport and the arts.
It’s on the Arts he mentions and praises the Irish Nobel prize laureates and others . And rightly so.
He did however, omit Percy French that remarkably talented man from Co Roscommon – artist, composer, actor, musician, poet and entertainer. With a penchant for comedic writing that was unique in itself.
In my mind. Percy French is as important artistically in Irish culture as any of the great writers and artists of our times.
I will just mention in passing the West Clare Railway , the Mountains of Mourne etc, etc . – Yours, etc,
TERRY CLANCY,
Castletroy,
Co Limerick.
A foray into the letter writing
Sir, – My first foray into Irish Times letter writing came at 16, triggered into action by the Bishop Eamonn Casey affair.
The joy of being published was quickly tempered by the editor having taken a scalpel to the penultimate line of my two-line finale, now making the last line nonsensical.
It scarred me for the next 24 years, until new-found resolve on turning 40 obliged me to once again pick up the pen. Incredibly, my verbose scolding of Fintan O’Toole also found its way on to these hallowed pages, and I was now 2/2, albeit over nearly a quarter of a century.
Now emboldened, I found further successes on diverse topics such as the bank bailout, rugby anthems, three-legged dogs, and of course further tilts at my nemesis O’Toole.
Alas, I think these early successes went to my head, and I became too cocky, too partisan, now daring to broach sacred cows such as Munster rugby.
The letters editor duly replaced the scalpel with a cudgel, and I now fear the only page I grace is a blackballed list.
Who knows… maybe someday I’ll make it back.
I just hope it doesn’t take another 25 years. – Yours, etc,
ALAN KEALY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
