Closing the decade a year too soon

IN your editorial of January 1 you imply that we have seen the end of the first decade of this millennium.

This, of course, is not mathematically correct although repeated by numerous people in both the written and broadcast media.

If, under the Gregorian calendar, the first year is, as it must be, year one, it follows that the first decade ended at the end of year 10.

It also follows that the first century ended at the end of year 100 and the first millennium ended at midnight on December 31, 1000. It is clear, therefore, that the second millennium ended at midnight on December 31, 2000. Consequently two points arise.

Firstly, the world celebrated the arrival of the new millennium – at midnight on 31/12/1999 – one year too soon.

Secondly, it follows that the first decade of this millennium doesn’t finish until the end of 2010.

Brendan Hurley

Nursery Drive

Ballinlough

Cork