Sir, - Nuala O Faolain's description of Irish citizens as "citizens of the Republic", in her article on St Patrick's Day, is incorrect. Article 9 of the Constitution and Section 6 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 56 confer citizenship of Ireland of every person born on the island Ireland (North and South).
The article deals only with attitudes and perceptions of the population of the Southern State which Ms O Faolain equates with Ireland - somewhat ironic, on a day to celebrate a saint with such strong links with Antrim, Down and Armagh. Unfortunately, this perception of Ireland as ending a few miles north of Dundalk is all too frequently experienced in the South and should be challenged by those who wish to achieve unity of the people of Ireland.
Those who have a mental picture of the North as being a thousand miles away should reflect on the hard fact of its proximity to Dublin. Belfast (104 miles from Dublin) is nearer than Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo. Newry, which is only 66 miles away, is closer than Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Cavan and Monaghan. - Yours, etc.,
Greenview Park,
Belfast BT9 6TZ.