Michelin who? . . . Necessity of hunting . . . Sudden death
- Last week the media once again over-indulged in its extensive coverage of the accreditation of Michelin stars providing much free publicity for the French restaurant guide. But does anyone give a fig?
Anyone that is, apart from a few ample-girthed, windbagging, snobby food writers, allowing them the opportunity for even longer liquid lunches as they discuss the merits of this year's anointed restaurants.
In reality, Michelin stars are more about inter-rivalry between even snobbier so-called "top restaurants", allowing them the excuse to charge even more exorbitant prices.
PÀDRAIC BREATHNACH
CO NA GAILLIMHE
- I feel as if I am obliged to apologise profoundly to Aideen Yourell (Letters, January 29).
No doubt she cried a few crocodile tears for the future of the Irish red deer as she wielded her quill.
The underlying point of my initial letter was that the Ward Union care deeply about the Irish red deer and indeed run one of the largest private herds of Ireland's noblest mammal, a herd that could not be maintained without the revenue generated by hunting throughout the winter months.
Outlying stags, under original schemes, were never forgotten and were always recaptured as soon as possible.
Were hunting and other country sports to be banned in Ireland, it would result in catastrophic damage to the Irish horse industry, for which this country is renowned and celebrated worldwide.
JOHN CONDREN
THE SWAN, CO LAOIS
- I wish to congratulate Olivia Kelleher on her article in Saturday's Irish Independent. I am chairperson of the Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young support group and I am always pleased to see well written articles on the subject.
MARY VASSEGHI
DUBLIN 1
