SNIPPET: Readers shared their thoughts on Ireland in the March-April 1999 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine: Richard RAYMOND, Baltimore, MD: "Relative to your Nov/Dec 1998 article on Barry DOUGLAS and his identity with and commitment to Ireland, last year I had the rare opportunity of hearing this artist play the great trilogy of romantic piano concertos - the Beethoven Fifth, Brahms First and Tchaikovsky First. An added Irish dimension of these performances by the native Belfaster, who has described his musical sensibility as Irish melancholy, is that one of them coincided with the deadline of the Irish peace proposal. All the performances were infused with the pianist's attuned sense of contrast: a chiselled yet supple playing with shifts between tension and relaxation, muscle and tenderness to produce an art not only affective, but also profoundly Irish. In the tradition of the ancient Gaelic musicians, his art is not bound by clan affiliation. Its affects carry special instruction for Ireland and more general instruction for the world." Sabine HEINIGER, Oberanz, Switzerland: "I am just 21 years old and have lost my heart to Ireland. I'm not Irish, but I'm very fascinated by your green island and all the nice people. My first trip to Ireland was to Dublin in November 1997. Last summer I visited Cork. I was crying when I had to leave to go home to Switzerland. I love reading about the history, people and places of Ireland. I enjoy listening to Irish music, such as the Dubliners, The Chieftains or the Pogues ... I have found an Irish pub here in Switzerland called 'Dicey Reilly's Irish Tavern." There are live Irish bands playing folk music and it's always good fun. I can't wait to visit Ireland again and thank you for your wonderful magazine and for the friendliness of Ireland." Gordon L. DEEGAN, San Carlos, CA: "As a fourth generation Irishman I enjoy reading your magazine and rather vicariously renewing my roots as I have never had the opportunity of visiting Ireland. I have a couple requests for future issues of your magazine. Firstly it would be interesting to learn about the Irish composer, John FIELD. Secondly, I miss your articles on Irish family names. Interest in my roots leads me to wanting to know more concerning the origin of the name DEEGAN. My great grandfather Michael DEEGAN, may have come from Co. Clare or Co. Offaly sometime in the 1830s. You will be interested to know that when I have finished reading IOTW I pass each copy on to another friend of Irish ancestry, who enjoys the magazine as much as I do." (The editor replied, "Some years ago we published an article on the almost forgotten composer John FIELD; the renowned pianist John O'CONOR is a great supporter of John FIELD and has brought his music to many recitals worldwide."