DO you ever get the feeling that we are surrounded by a bunch of doom merchants. Open the papers, look at ‘the box,’ listen to the radio or surf the net and there they are, coming at us like a swarm of locusts eating away at our tender souls.

IN his letter headlined ‘Irish language was marginalised by history’ (Irish Examiner, June 28), Jim Yates says the difference between Irish and Maltese as EU languages is that “all citizens of Malta speak Maltese”.

YOUR correspondent, Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc (‘If Maltese is a European language, why not Irish?, Irish Examiner letters, June 22) seems to miss the point of my letter (‘Irish language will never be the talk of Europe, Irish Examiner, June 15).

IT seems the silly season arrives earlier and earlier each year.

EVERY so often, Kevin Myers gets out the wrong side of the bed and takes it out on the world, in this case unmarried mothers.

WHAT a revelation - Bertie Ahern is a socialist. Wow!

ARE we being emotionally blackmailed by the Royal Dublin Society?

I SUPPOSE it was bound to happen and, in many ways, perhaps I should congratulate your correspondent Jim Yates on his letter entitled ‘Sour grapes on the red carpet’ (Irish Examiner, April 2).

WHY are the Irish such bad losers? Does it really matter if the President walks on either a green or red carpet?