My favourite line in the Bishops' statement on dancing is where it says We well know how so many of our people have of late been awaiting such a declaration as we now issue. Such an exaggerated sense of their own importance; as if the young men and 'maidens' could not decide for themselves about attending a dance.

Yes, it is over 90 years ago. But the arrogance and self importance continues; it is a veey human trait. To me, Richard Dawkins riding in to rescue the poor deluded Irish smacks of the same conceit.

William Pryne's book which I quoted, ake, covers a great deal more than that. It was primarily about attending plays but he soon got into the swing of it and ranted aboutalmost everyrhing he could think about.