Sir, – It was uplifting to see how well the heads of state of Ireland and the United Kingdom, respectively, embraced Ireland’s first state visit to the United Kingdom. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins fulfilled his role with statesmanlike aplomb, while Queen Elizabeth demonstrated a generosity of spirit, an emotional intelligence and a willingness to appreciate Irish history.
The visit was, as you pointed out in your editorial (“Sovereign and equal”, April 10th), “first and foremost a proper acknowledgement by the British state of our standing as equals in the community of nations”.
For this we need to be thankful, first and foremost, to the patriots whose vision made sovereign Ireland a reality in 1922, and whose sacrifices (including at Easter 1916, the 98th anniversary of which will be celebrated in a matter of days), lest we forget, made it possible for Ireland today to hold her head high on state visits to other nations.Yours, etc,
JOHN B REID,
Knapton Road,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin
Sir, – John Draper (Letters, April 12th) speaking of the “dubious narrative” of the Irish in Britain suffering discrimination in the 1960s, claimed the “No Blacks No Dogs No Irish” signs were mythical phrases coined only in the late 1980s. Mr Draper also claimed that anti-immigrant prejudice did not affect the Irish “because they had white skin”.
In 1959 I went to Britain to seek work, found it and remained in London for many happy years and never suffered discrimination in the workplace or socially for that matter. However, in terms of sourcing accommodation it was different. Contrary to Mr Draper’s view that racism against the Irish and blacks in the area of renting rooms was fictitious, I know that it was not, as I was a victim. I was refused accommodation despite having “white skin”. This refusal was on the basis of my accent.
It was not unusual to see signs in shop windows advertising rooms to let which read “No Blacks or Irish”. It may not have been a very widespread practice but it certainly was there. Conversely, some rooms to let ads specified a willingness to accept Irish. These were usually, but not always, from Irish landlords. Yours, etc ,
TOM COOPER ,
Templeville Road,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W
Sir, – Declan Kiberd beautifully sums up our relationship with England by the phrase “the narcissism of small differences”. My father was a raging nationalist. At the same time his parents made huge sacrifices in the early 1950s to get him an education to make him a part of the new independent Ireland. He eventually became a successful businessman in that new Ireland and as a result of that success ended up living in London, listed on the London stock exchange and rubbing shoulders with many a cool dude. He was delighted. He had met the Brits on their own turf, and lo and behold he realised he had more in common with them than he thought.
I reflect on this as I read this article and look at the picture of his first cousin (Garry Hynes) at the banquet in Windsor Castle. Michael Whelan (RIP) wouldn’t you be proud! Yours, etc,
MAEVE MARTIN,
Airmount Cottage,
Clonmel,
CoTipperary
Sir, – Manus O’Riordan (Letters, April 12th) refers to Myles Dungan as saying that the “Irish” Guards were formed shortly after the South African War. In fact they were formed on April 1st, 1900, to commemorate the Irishmen who were mauled by the Boers at Colenso on December 15th, 1899.
In that engagement MacBride's Irish Brigade fought against them. Some of that brigade fought until the end of the war, on May 31st, 1902 ,and were honoured as "bitter-enders" by their Boer allies by being awarded the Dekoratie voor Troue Diens (Decoration for Faithful Service). Yours, etc.
BRIAN P O CINNEIDE,
Durban,
South Africa
Sir, – I note that Manus O’Riordan (Letters, April 12th), believes John MacBride to have fought on the “anti-imperialist“side in the Boer War. Is this how the Irish left characterises Oom (Uncle) Paul Kruger, his Bible, and the tenets of the Dutch Reformed Chuch ? Perhaps there are other points of confluence. It is well documented that Oom Paul believed the world to be flat. Yours, etc,
ENDA HARDIMAN
Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Sir, — I watched the Ceiliuradh concert at the Royal Albert Hall with great admiration, but find that I am left with a certain regret. I have noted that a whole cohort of Irish musicians were not represented at all – these are the exponents of classical music. Many of these brought great distinction to the British orchestras and opera companies in which they spent their careers, and many others brought back to Ireland their knowledge and expertise. There has been much emphasis during President Higgins’s visit on honouring and remembering those who have forged links between Ireland and Britain. I feel that the cultural links in the field of classical music have been ignored, and a golden opportunity to showcase some of our wonderful opera singers and instrumentalists has been lost. Yours, etc,
GILLIAN SMITH,
Upper Beechwood Avenue,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6
Sir, Would President Higgins look me in the eye and tell me he will be supporting England in the World Cup? If so, he will be ploughing a lonely furrow. I know of no Irishman (or Welshman or Scot for that matter) who will be doing the same. For goodness sake, even within England there are many who would fail the Tebbit cricket test and secretly want England to fail. They will not be disappointed. England have little chance of progressing to the later stages and absolutely no chance of winning. Many thanks for your support Mr President, but you’re on your own on this one. Yours, etc,
FRANK GREANEY,
Lonsdale Road,
Liverpool L373HF