I WOULD like to congratulate the Sunday Tribune and Fiona Looney on a fine article on the phenomenon and debate that surrounded Brokeback Mountain. I, along with thousands of other Irish people, gay and straight, have found it to be a wonderful love story. But more importantly it is fantastic to see a gay-themed film. For so long, gay issues were given only momentary or trivial coverage on various forms of media, soaps, sitcoms and films.

As a gay person, it means so much to see representation of my sexuality on the big screen.

Ang Lee has done a wonderful job in portraying Anne Proulx's novella, and was by and large truthful to the story. It's great for gay people to see how successful the movie has been amongst the heterosexual community.

Last week, Ryan Tubridy spoke about Brokeback Mountain on his show and really showed how limited his knowledge of gay issues is. I must congratulate Ms Looney on a fine piece of writing which was well researched, argued and expressed.

Once again thanks and keep up the good work.

Richard Deane richard. deane@gmail. com

March reaction shows split

YOUR coverage of the angry reaction of people to the Loyalist march clearly shows that such a display of Union Jacks and British flags at the GPO in Dublin is opposed by the Irish people.

The fact is that those in power have gone 'a bridge too far' in trying to normalise British rule in Ireland.

This misguided Loyalist venture was supposed to be some sort of test of Irish public opinion. It was presented as a measure of maturity and acceptance but any secondary school student could have forecast a negative reaction.

The fact is that our country is divided . . . and partition is the cause of conflict . . . and no amount of papering over the failure of the Stormont Agreement will change that reality.

Rather than trying to force these events on the Irish people, as part of the normalising of British rule in Ireland, those in power would be better off acknowledging the evils of partition and making a genuine attempt to rectify the wrongs of our history.

The very idea that Loyalists could parade past the GPO waving Union Jacks and proclaiming their Britishness in a triumphant manner was a non-runner and those who encouraged this display should be ashamed of themselves.

History cannot be undone.

Pretending that the Easter Rising did not take place is simply an exercise in futility and pretending that it was not a revolution against foreign rule is also a denial of our history.

There is a place for all traditions in Ireland when Britain declares her intention to withdraw and the Irish people can determine their own future without foreign influence.

Joe Lynch, 16 Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, Ireland.

Rioters the enemy of democracy

THE one good thing after Saturday night was to hear the warm and generous tributes to our gardai from both ordinary participants and leaders in the march.

These thugs have done something to unite decent people, North or South, firmly behind democracy and its defenders.

"Defend our democracy;

Defend its defenders" is the call that now reflects the demands of ordinary decent people throughout this island, whatever their county, creed, party, culture, or flag.

Our common enemy has challenged us all to expose them as the neo-Nazi thugs they are.

I also wonder how significant the language I heard on Carlow/Kilkenny Local Radio on Saturday night is, when a 24-year-old bank employee, Kathleen Funchion, spoke as the Sinn Fein candidate for Carlow/Kilkenny and referred to the riots only as "disappointing".

Tom Carew, Dublin 6, tmcarew@yahoo. com Adidas boot not aimed at children

I WOULD like to clarify a number of points from your article (News, 19 February) in relation to the new Adidas TUNiT football boot.

The F50+ TUNiT boot is not targeted at children. It is not made in children's sizes.

Realising that children may want it, we have, however, made two boots for children which share the same look . . .
the F10+ and F30+. These are available at 35 and 55.

The TUNiT boot range starts at 180. The boot itself is designed in such a way as to alleviate the need for players to have different boots for different ground conditions. The 400 boot mentioned in your article is actually a Premium Pack, which gives three different uppers, two inners, three sets of studs and 18 different configuration options and will only be available on a very limited basis in Ireland.

More research and development has gone into our new TUNiT boots than any other boot we've ever developed. The result is a boot that players can customise to meet their own needs and style . . . without it costing a fortune.

Paul Moloney, Sports Manager, Adidas Ireland.