Sir, - I wish to express my dismay at the naivety of Cllr Mary Freehill's welcome to the proposed Orange Order march through the streets of Dublin.
As a citizen of Northern Ireland living in Dublin this was not the news I wanted to hear. I consider my views to be moderate, unlike those of the organisation which has bullied and disrupted the lives of people of all traditions North of the Border for many years.
I favour any activity which promotes harmony between both communities, but welcoming the dinosaur of prejudice that is the Orange Order is hardly relevant to moving towards a new future.
Those who welcome the idea as an exercise in cultural exchange should recall the Orange Order's protest at Harryville, Co Antrim, where its members tried to intimidate local Catholic residents from attending their place of worship for over a year.
This Orange Order is as much a political organisation as a religious one. An open opponent of the Northern Ireland Peace Process, it would be better ignored than encouraged.
On top of all of this there is the prospect of the opposition and disruption that such an event will inevitably bring to the city.
As a taxpayer I would not wish to fund the massive security cost that would be involved.
I would urge the Lord Mayor to reconsider her well-meaning but ill-advised welcome. - Yours, etc.,
Frank Donnelly, Christchurch View, Dublin 8.