I WAS severely taken to task by a Mr Matt Harper, in a letter to the editor, over the article I wrote here last week.

MY esteemed colleague Terry Prone made the point in this space yesterday that the hardest question to answer, in the face of the riots that engulfed Britain last week, is why.

SOME time ago I brought a visitor from Holland, an educationalist, to visit a school here.

I WANTED to write two letters over the weekend — although I suppose nowadays you’d be more likely to send two e-mails.

“THIS is the Republic of Ireland 2011. A republic of laws, of rights and responsibilities; of proper civic order; where the delinquency and arrogance of a particular version, of a particular kind of “morality”, will no longer be tolerated or ignored.”

ABRAHAM Lincoln was plagued with bad generals.

THERE’S a mystery about the closure of Accident and Emergency services at Roscommon General Hospital.

BUTCHERS or gardeners — which are they?

DEAR Minister Quinn, Let me congratulate you first of all, if that’s not impertinent, on the great start you’ve made in the Department of Education.

SOMEBODY asked me on Sunday was I disappointed not to have won the Labour nomination for the Presidential election.