Irish grammar

Sir, – Peter Elst’s (Letters, November 5th) letter concerning the Irish language inadvertently highlights one of the greatest obstacles to the revival of the language. His correction of Michael Deasy’s spelling of cúpla focal brings the unnecessary complexity of modern Irish grammar into focus.

Very few speakers speak grammatically and fewer still can write an error free letter in Irish, without recourse to Google translate or some other grammar checker.

A good start in simplifying the grammar would be to follow the example of Bulgarian and eliminate cases in the noun.

Lenition (an séimhiú, eg mo chapall) and eclipsis (an t-urú, eg ar an gcapall) could also be dispensed with in the noun and the adjective. This would make the language far more accessible, without damaging its essence.

Perhaps our new president could lead a campaign to simplify and modernise the grammar of the Irish language. – Yours, etc,

EOIN O’LEARY,

Mulhussey,

Maynooth.

Orange Order and King Charles praying with Pope Leo

Sir, – The Orange Order’s complaint to King Charles after he prayed with Pope Leo in Rome (“Orange Order complains to King Charles over Pope Leo prayer”, Home News, November 7th) is disappointing to see. We should be able to move well beyond the religious politics of the late 1700s, 1800s and 1900s.

It is worth remembering that the organisation itself takes its name from William of Orange, a man who had a constructive and at times supportive relationship with the pope of his day. William had family connections that also reached deep into Catholic Europe.

History is never as neat or simple as some would like to claim.

As someone who grew up with both traditions, I know that the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church are much closer to each other than Anglicanism is to the other main Christian Churches such as the Methodist or Presbyterian traditions.