The Irish language's place in modern Irish society is a topic worthy of serious and informed discussion. Unfortunately Mr Maurice Fitzgerald's rant, "New Irish language revival campaign is ludicrous" (Letters, 2 January), was not informed, and not serious either, although I assume Fitzgerald intended it to be. His letter was so full of factual errors and logical fallacies that any attempt to take it seriously does both the writer and the reader an injustice.

Some people, such as Fitzgerald, will always hold such opinions, and there is no point arguing with them. As Sydney Smith said: "Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out." I am, however, disappointed that the Sunday Tribune would print such a letter, thus lowering the level of the debate in general.

By all means have knowledgeable proponents from both sides argue it out in your paper, so that we may learn from them and shape our own opinions. But surely the readers of the Sunday Tribune deserve more in their letters page than the childish, not to mention factually incorrect, letter written by Fitzgerald.

Tomás Ó hAodha

Curra Glen

Clondrohid

Macroom

Co Cork