Madam, – The recent revelations concerning John O’Donoghue’s lavish lifestyle during his term as ceann comhairle reminded me of some correspondence I had with him in his previous capacity as minister for arts, sport and tourism. In February 2003 I e-mailed the then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, with a suggestion to fund the translation of one or both of the Irish biographies of Cathal Brugha on the basis not only that Brugha quickly became one of the most sidelined political figures in Irish history following his tragic death in July 1922 during the Irish Civil War, but that visitors to Dáil Éireann could be directed towards at least one accessible biography of Brugha when they are shown the portraits of Brugha and Michael Collins that hang on opposite walls at the entrance hall to Leinster House.
Interestingly, prior to serving as minister for defence from April 2nd, 1919 until January 9th, 1922, Brugha acted as ceann comhairle on January 21st, 1919 when the Dáil held its inaugural meeting in the Mansion House. Incidentally, he also occupied the role of príomh aire (prime minister) from January 22nd, 1919 until Éamon de Valera assumed this role on April 1st, 1919. My e-mail was forwarded to John O’Donoghue’s office which promptly replied on March 12th, 2003 that inquiries were “being made and a further letter will be issued to you as soon as possible”. Two months later, the fateful letter arrived containing the following sad tidings: “The Minister has had the matter examined and it appears that there is no source of funding available to him to support this type of project.” – Yours, etc,