Madam, - Mark Urwin (September 24th) is critical of the widening of the debate about "Irishmen in British uniforms" to include Irishmen in all uniforms who fell in action during the 20th century (presumably including those in Irish uniforms), which is the basis for for the Mayo Memorial Peace Park, due to be opened soon.
Surely there is no harm and most likely some good in looking at the wider picture, for in doing so we get its parts in better perspective. We realise that most of those who fought and died in foreign uniforms did so believing that they had the approval of Mother Ireland and of course those who died in Irish uniforms knew it for sure. Surely also it is right that these men should be remembered and honoured and thanked for our freedom from fascism, Bolshevism and other tyrannies, for helping to keep the peace in foreign lands and for providing relief of suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters and during famines.
I would dare to go even further and suggest that Irishmen in foreign uniforms who brought fame and credit to their motherland but did not die in action should also be commemorated. This would allow the inclusion of such heroes as Shackleton and Crean and allow the people of Mayo to honour and remember in their peace park the remarkable William Browne, the founder of the Argentine navy, who hailed from Foxford.
I wish the organisers of the Mayo Memorial Peace Park well and hope that their efforts will help us all to agree that the good achieved by Irishmen in all uniforms has helped to make the world a better place. - Yours, etc,
FRANK TURVEY,
Church Road,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.