Sir, - The new style date of the battle of the Boyne is July 11th, 1690, not July 12th (Mr Ben Walsh, July 29th), a point that has been made at some length by at least one other correspondent and myself in your letters column. The error that continues to be made is that of adding the 11 day difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars that existed in the 18th century, when the calendar was changed in these islands, to the old style date of an event that occurred in the 17th century, when the difference was only ten.
The addition of a day was caused by the year 1700 being accounted a leap year in the Julian calendar, but not in the Gregorian. For the same reason, the new style date of Aughrim is July 2nd 1691 not July 23rd.
The figure of Irish dead at Aughrim was about 4,000, not 7,000 (see, for instance. G. A. Hayes McCoy, Irish battles). - Yours, etc.,
Colonel (retd.),
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.
PS. I wonder if Mr Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, August 1st), would set out his views on how Irish independence might have been achieved by non violent means. In so doing, he may, of course, make any reasonable assumptions.