Madam, - Bertie Ahern emphasised "the importance of remembering the history of all the people of this island, from all traditions" when unveiling the special commemorative stamp to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme (The Irish Times, June 22nd). Why, then, has An Post chosen, as a design, JP Beadle's painting of the attack of the Ulster Division?
This reinforces the erroneous belief (sustained in no small way by almost a century of collective amnesia south of the Border) that Northern Protestants were the only people of this island who fought and died in the major battles of the Great War.
I have no wish to belittle their sacrifice, but the fact remains that the vast cemeteries of France and Flanders contain the mortal remains of Irishmen - Catholic and Protestant - from every province. I believe a better option would have been for An Post to commission a new painting without the historical baggage associated with the one chosen.
An Post itself commissioned artist Norman Teeling to paint magnificent images of the 1916 Rising which adorn the GPO. It is a great pity that equal imagination was not used on this occasion to create a work to commemorate all those from this island who gave their lives. - Yours, etc,
DAVID POWER, Grange Manor, Lucan, Co Dublin.
Madam, - When unveiling the Somme commemorative stamp,Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stressed the importance of remembering the shared history and shared experience of the people of this island from all traditions in the year of 1916.
Mr Ahern further stated: "The Battle of the Somme saw many young Irishmen tragically lose their lives and it is fitting that their sacrifice be remembered". Of course it is entirely proper that appropriate public ceremonies be held to honour those who went away and never returned: that is precisely the reason we have a National Day of Commemoration on the first Sunday of July each year whereby the Irish State honours with dignity and respect all Irish who fell in all wars, including service with the United Nations.
In addition, the Irish State has for several years now involved itself in the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremonies of the Royal British Legion. In recent times awards and titles of nobility have been conferred on leading Irish notables by the British State. Not only should this be seen as an infringement on Irish sovereignty, it should also be seen as an attack on the republican and egalitarian ethos of Bunreacht na hÉireann. The Government has remained silent on this matter throughout.
Last July the State participated in a bizarre event in Carrigaline, Co Cork to commemorate the exploits of the 16th-century British pirate Francis Drake. In attendance were a Government minister and a detachment of the Naval Service. Around the same time, the Naval Service participated alongside the Royal Navy in an event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Admiral Nelson's defeat of the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar. Both France and Spain had been the ally of an Ireland struggling for freedom. Most recently, the Air Corps, alongside the British Royal Air Force, jointly commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Surely the primary allegiance of this State should be to those who established the State, not to those who opposed its formation. - Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.