Luke would smile down at vandals

Sir — The vandalising of two statues of the late great Luke Kelly in recent days is sad to see. Leaving school at 13, the selftaught red-haired troubadour could hold a conversation in any company — be it priest or parson, prince or pauper.

Looking down at vandals and smiling in a kindly way, he might be heard to utter the immortal words “scorn not their simplicity, but rather try to love them all the more”.

The old proverb might apply here — a prophet is never fully respected in his own land.

Tom Towey,

Cloonacool, Co Sligo