Madam, – I read with some surprise the comments of Senator Liam Twomey regarding Minister Lenihan’s invitation to this year’s Béal na Bláth commemoration (August 12th). It would appear Mr Twomey believes that only one political party is welcome to celebrate the immense contribution which Michael Collins made to our nation.
As someone who was born in the late 1970s, I and my generation carry none of the Civil War bitterness that divided Irish society for so long, and while I am a member of Fianna Fáil, I can identify with the aspirations of both Collins and De Valera and celebrate their contribution to Irish freedom. In fact I would also celebrate the active part members of all political parties play in keeping our democracy and the legacy of the war of independence alive.
What surprised me more was that these comments came from Senator Twomey who until 2004 was not a member of Fine Gael but an Independent and yet I presume he was entitled to hold the same affection for Michael Collins then as he does now.
His current position would also seem to be in contrast to the Seanad debate of November 5th last in which he discussed Michael Collins with Minister for Social Protection Eamon Ó Cuiv, and said, “I would say most would accept they [Collins and De Valera] were great friends and that it was unfortunate what had happened.”
Perhaps the real insult to the memory of Michael Collins is not that a member of Fianna Fáil will speak at Béal na Bláth, but that there is a grubby attempt to use his legacy to seek publicity. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – The hypocrisy shown in Senator Liam Twomey’s letter (August 12th) seems indicative of what we have come to expect from so many of our modern politicians.
I am not commenting on the issue of whether Minister Lenihan should or should not give the oration at the annual Michael Collins commemoration. Rather, I am taken aback at Senator’s Twomey’s statement “Brian Lenihan, whose predecessors murdered Michael Collins”.
Michael Collins died during a gun battle. No matter how tragic, it was not murder.
However, Senator Twomey’s predecessors took 77 of the unarmed republican prisoners in their custody and executed them in cold blood. Worse still were the extrajudicial murders of unarmed prisoners (at least 124) while in the custody of Free State forces.Many, if not most, of these latter murders were preceded by unspeakable acts of brutality against the victims.
I believe we should overcome the continuing differences of Civil War politics. I believe that we should reconcile and forgive. I certainly do not believe that we should descend into the sort of breathtaking hypocrisy shown in Senator Twomey’s letter.
I felt compelled to respond to the letter because so many of the graves of the victims referred to above are in the perpetual care of our association.
Two excellent books, recently published, dealing with these matters maybe of interest to the Senator: Seventy Seven of Mine Said Irelanddeals with the official executions of the Civil War. Death Before Dishonourdeals with the extrajudicial murders. Both publications are compiled by the author Martin O'Dwyer. – Is mise,
Madam, – I wish to correct Senator Liam Twomey’s (August 12th) historical imprecision and to disagree with him. I think Minister Brian Lenihan should make the oration at the Michael Collins commemoration in Béal na Bláth on August 22nd.
The Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil political parties did not exist when Michael Collins was killed in an ambush at Béal na mBláth on August 22nd, 1922.
Éamon de Valera formed the Fianna Fáil (Warriors of Destiny) organisation on May 16th, 1926. The title was used by some Irish speakers to the Irish Volunteers. Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Irish Army, was founded on November 25th, 1913. Its inceptor and first commander-in-chief was my great grandfather Eoin Mac Neill. He designed its cap badge and insignia inscribing the words Fianna Fáil. Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins wore the same uniform. The same cap badge and insignia is worn by every serving soldier in the Army to this day.
Mac Neill was our first minister for finance in the first Dáil government as well as minister of education and member of the executive in the provisional government until 1925. He was also the first president of Cumann na nGaedheal. One of his sons, Brian, took the anti-Treaty side during the Civil War and was killed in Sligo during 1922. Another son, Hugo, fought on the pro-treaty side and eventually became a lieutenant-general in the Army.
My grandfather Prof Michael Tierney was a co-founder of the Senator’s political party. He suggested the title Fine Gael (Family of the Irish) during September 1933 when Cumann na nGaedheal, the National Guard and the Centre Party merged.
Neither Cumann na nGaedheal nor the Fine Gael political party created the State. We the people of Ireland did.
I currently witness a close family relative endure chemotherapy cancer treatment, so I admire Minister Linehan’s ability, energy levels and courage to keep going with his work when suffering from cancer.
He shows leadership and patriotism like Michael Collins did. His oration will signal another end to an increasingly irrelevant and dated Civil War rivalry between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I wish him well. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I read with disbelief the recent comments of Senator Liam Twomey (August 12th) with regard to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan. Referring to Mr Lenihan’s illness, Senator Twomey states “As a medical doctor, I am not sure that it is appropriate for him to continue working like he is.” In my opinion, this remark shows an appalling lack of judgment.
I believe we can safely assume that Dr Twomey has no direct involvement in the Minister’s treatment. Thus he can have no direct insight into the Minister’s exact diagnosis, prognosis and current state of health. In this context, I fail to see how he is remotely qualified to comment on Brian Lenihan’s condition. I believe such an approach to be breathtakingly arrogant and grossly insensitive. It is difficult to imagine a more cynical act than to attempt to score political points over a man’s illness. The Minister has made it clear he will be guided by the advice of his medical team with regard to his fitness to work.
Dr Twomey then goes on to somehow link Brian Lenihan to the assassination of Michael Collins, an event that took place decades before the Minister was born.
It should be remembered that the Senator was elected as an independent TD to Dáil Éireann in 2002. He subsequently joined Fine Gael and promptly lost his seat in 2007. It appears he is now desperately trying to compensate for his political past by dredging up the civil war, in an attempt to impress the sceptical party grass roots that he was a true believer all along.
It beggars belief that a member of the Oireachtas should be capable of writing such a petty, tribal and downright nasty letter.
Senator Twomey should apologise. – Yours, etc,