Sir,- Congratulations to Frank McNally on reaching 20 years as a diarist. While he lists that number of insights gained along the way, I’ve learned far more than 20 things from reading them. On the outreach of this small island, the origins of our words and phrases and the cultural life of Dublin, he remains the perfect commentator. Long may he continue. – Yours, etc,BRIAN O’BRIEN,Kinsale,Co Cork.Sir, – Frank McNally’s Irishman’s Diary (May 20th) invokes the ghost of Jeffrey Bernard admirably – though mercifully, unlike Bernard, he was merely deadline-stricken rather than permanently “unwell”. The Irish Times can be grateful its diarist’s chief vice appears to be paper cuttings and late-night panic dreams, not lunchtime doubles in Soho. – Yours, etc,ENDA CULLEN,Armagh.Sir, – Reading Frank McNally’s column reflecting on his 3,600 columns written in his 20 years as anchor tenant of An Irishman’s Diary I am struck by his humility.He has earned his PhD in fridge door Irish Studies yet he assumes he is just telling us something we already know. His column is compulsory reading and inspiration for discussion. – Yours, etc,MICHAEL GRIFFIN,Monaleen Rd,Limerick.[ Here are 20 things I have learned in 20 years of writing An Irish DiaryOpens in new window ]