Madam, - Regarding the recent interest in the Fethard Boycott (WJ Murphy, May 28th; "Schism by the Sea", Weekend Review, May 12th), many years have passed but I believe that it is important to ensure that the actions of individual parties can be understood in their proper context. My late husband (Canon Edward Grant) was rector in Fethard when Sheila and Seán Cloney were married.
Prior to marriage, the Cloneys agreed with both the parish priest (Rev Dean Cloney - Seán's uncle) and my husband that any children born in the marriage should be baptised both Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic. They understood that the Church of Ireland baptism would have to be the first one held for, while the Church of Ireland recognises as valid a Catholic baptism, the reverse is not the case (or was not, at that time).
However, the Wexford Town Nursing Home, in which their first child was born, was staffed by nuns, who had the child baptised as soon as she was born. Seán Cloney reported this to my husband not long afterwards and consequently it was not possible for the child to be baptised in the Church of Ireland. The couple's second daughter was treated baptismally like the first.
Both my husband and myself would have been of the opinion that this infringement of the couple's policy of mutual regard and joint planning contributed in large measure to the subsequent events.
In the course of time Sheila Cloney returned home with her two children.
Later, a third child was born while Rev Adrian Fisher was rector of Fethard.
I understand from him that this child was baptised both Church of Ireland and Catholic. I am glad to have lived to see times changing for the better. - Yours, etc,
Mrs VIOLET GRANT, Brabazon House, Gilford Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4.