Sports Letters: Religion irrelevant

Sir: In no paper on this side of the Irish Sea have I seen Gerry Murphy referred to as 'a Dublin Protestant', as your correspondent, Steve Bale, chose to do in his report (2 December) on Mr Murphy's recent appointment as coach to the Irish national rugby squad.

If a description of this nature is considered relevant to the job of a team coach, you stand indicted of failing to keep your readers informed of the religious persuasions of the many other sporting notables mentioned in your daily columns. Or is this considered of interest only in an Irish context?

Be that as it may, you may rest assured that in judging Gerry Murphy's achievements, Ireland's supporters will be far more concerned with the team's performance in the forthcoming Five Nations' Championship than on his private beliefs.

Yours faithfully,

TOM BYRNE

Rochestown, Cork, Ireland