NOW that St Patrick's Day is approaching, people all over the country are organising parades and other events. Is it too much to ask that organisers remember what we are celebrating?

St Patrick's Day is the national festival of the Irish nation. It ought to be an occasion for giving, for one day in the year at least, prominence to Irish music, history, language and tradition, all that makes us unique as a nation.

Instead, in recent years St Patrick's Day (at least in Dublin) has been marked by parades which feature nothing of our Irish traditions.

The typical Dublin affair now consists of groups of people shuffling along in weird costumes and beating drums, in a style directly stolen from events in places such as London.

There is little or no Irish music, Irish dancing, or celebration of Irish achievements in science, art and sport.

More prominence is given to the representation of the culture of migrant workers than to that of Ireland.

St Patrick's Day is Ireland's day, yet you'll hardly think so if you stand watching the parade next month.

David Barnwell, BA3thar PA raic, Baile A tha Cliath 9.

Daft rule means GAA holds monopoly

JOHN ARNOLD talks about the lack of reciprocity shown by rugby and soccer authorities vis-A -vis the GAA.

Surely the daft provisions of rule 42 ensure the association's monopoly in this regard?

Donal Donovan, Thornbury, Model Farm Road, Cork.

Dublin northsidesouthside nonsense

MICHAEL CLIFFORD's profile of the Dublin Southsider (11 February) was amusing, but it's time to rein in the burgeoning urban myths.

I have a foot in both camps because I grew up in Drumcondra but migrated to Dalkey.

The north-south dichotomy is hyped up on the basis of perceived southside elitism.

Dublin's northside, however, is the site of many prestigious institutions including: The Rotunda Hospital, King's Inns, the Law Society, the Four Courts, the Archbishop's Palace, the Phoenix Park, Botanic Gardens and many excellent schools such as O'Connell's, ColA iste Mhuire and Belvedere.

Growing up in Drumcondra, I never heard any northside jokes and was unaware of a north-south divide, which is largely a media creation.

Tony Quinn, Dalkey, Co Dublin.

FF squeals loud after Rabbitte's tax pledge

IN THE wake of Pat Rabbitte's pledge to reduce the standard rate of tax, how sweet it was to hear Brian Cowen, MicheA l Martin, and various Fianna FA il supporters squealing like stuck pigs!

Oliver McGrane, Marley Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.

Ireland can't afford to have wasters in of"ce WITH all the speculation in the media lately about the leadership qualities of both Pat Rabbitte and Enda Kenny, is it not time for people to look at the overall picture?

Surely, there lurks in both Labour and Fine Gael more able and daring ministers than most of the present incumbents.

For starters, a more caring minister of health, a less dogged and more socially aware minister of justice. To replace Martin Cullen, MicheA l Martin, Dick Roche and Mary Hanafin (after initial promise, a sore disappointment) would not require any one extraordinary ability. Just being able to keep an eye on accounts should be enough.

This country can't afford to keep these wasters in office for another five years. Yes, wasters, with no accountability to anybody, least of all the voters.

John McColgan, Oak Lane, Old Forest, Bunclody, Co Wexford.

FG scaremongering on state of economy

IF EVER there was evidence that Fine Gael is determined to talk the economy down and convince us that everything is wrong, it is the fact that one of their DA il candidates in Dublin announced the closure of a telecommunications plant in West Dublin, with the loss of 350 jobs.

Such inaccuracies and scaremongering are not new to Fine Gael in their desperate attempts to con the electorate about the state of the economy in Ireland.

Catherine McNally, Alexanderaide, Navan, Co Meath.

Hazel Lawlor gets no sympathy here

I HAVE no sympathy for Hazel Lawlor.

Did she ever enquire of her husband where all the money, way in excess of his DA il salary, was coming from?

I hope she is forced to leave Somerton to experience life in a 3-bed semi in a sprawling, ill-planned, west-Dublin housing estate designed by Lawlor, Burke and Redmond, as I did!

Sean Stephens, Forestway Lodge, Kilmurray, Clane, Co Kildare.

Questions remain about new DTS

YOUR Editorial of Sunday 11 February queried the appointment of Mr Tom Mulcahy as Chairperson of the putative Dublin Transportation Authority. While you raised several and justifiable questions, the key questions remain unanswered.

What exactly will the proposed DTA do? What relationship will it have with the existing agencies responsible for transport in Dublin? Why does it have no land-use remit? What responsibilities will still rest with the other agencies? Why has there been no consultation with Dublin City Council? This last point was confirmed to me by the Dublin City Manager at the February meeting of the City Council. Dublin needs a powerful, integrated and effective Dublin Transportation and Land Use Authority.

The travesty outlined by Martin Cullen will set back the cause of having such an authority by years - which brings me to my last question.

Why on earth does Martin Cullen continue to hold office, despite years of arrogance only matched by his incompetence?

Cllr Dermot Lacey 66 Beech Hill Drive, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

We can all sing 'Ireland's Call' with gusto

IT IS sad that when the two enemy tribes on this island voluntarily join forces to play international rugby, most nationalists insist that our 'nationalist' anthem be sung. This displays a total disregard for the rights and sensibilities of unionists.

We have never considered offering our unionist team-mates an opportunity of singing their anthem, be it 'The Sash', 'God Save the Queen', 'The Green Glens of Antrim' or whatever they fancy. Likewise, we have never considered incorporating an orange stripe into the green jersey.

Over the years, the forbearance of the unionist rugby fraternity in not telling us where to stuff our 'nationalist' anthem truly amazes me. The recent introduction of the neutral 'Ireland's Call', which we can all sing with gusto, is most welcome and gives us the opportunity of dropping our totally inappropriate 'nationalist' anthem on these occasions.

If we cannot show respect to our unionist neighbours in these small matters, what hope for reconciliation and peace between our two peoples on the larger stage?

Dick Keane, Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.