I wish to respond to the fine article written by Conall Ó Fatharta on ‘Illegal’ adoptions (Jan 14).

Many years ago a man in rural Ireland was making and selling chicken burgers.

With the usual government-coordinated media fanfare whenever a government achieves anything at all, I just heard that 100 jobs had been ‘created’ in Limerick “thanks to the efforts of the IDA and the Ministry of Enterprise”.

It was a bit Irish of Graham Norton from Bandon telling us in Kerry we are a remote bit of Ireland.

When I hear the term, ‘The Gathering’, I can’t help thinking it means something Poe, Hitchcock, or King, might write about.

Northern Ireland is, once again, going through a bad patch as the struggle for identity and culture goes on.

NTMA chief John Corrigan’s assertion that Moody’s sub-investment grade rating of Ireland is contributing to our massive borrowing costs is absolutely correct.

News that Tesco own brand burgers contain horsemeat is riding high on the airwaves.

With respect to golfer Rory McIlroy’s predicament of having to decide whether to play for Ireland or Team Great Britain in the 2016 Olympic Games, there is a very simple solution to his problem.

A head honcho banker said recently they wouldn’t be facilitating those he called “chancers” in their pursuit of mortgage relief.