Madam, - I can assure Owen Corrigan (May 14th) that he is not alone - and I am relieved to know that neither am I - in finding the triumphal tours by both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste a distasteful response to the assumption of high office.
Of the other 11 heads of government since the State was founded, I would be certain that at least nine would not have considered such a tour. That is because they saw their position as one of service to the people, rather than reigning over them and distributing largesse.
There was a serious lack of dignity about the whole performance, and if our leaders have no dignity they have nothing. - Yours etc,
MARGARET LEE,
Ahane,
Newport,
Co Tipperary.
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Madam, - What kind of mealy-mouthed begrudgery is behind the letters to your pages denouncing the local celebrations of the newly appointed Taoiseach and Tánaiste in Offaly and Donegal respectively?
Rather than pour scorn, I believe we should rejoice in the confidence and pride of place so evidently demonstrated. In this era of increasing homogeneity, Atlantic accents and Friends-speak, is it not refreshing to find a new leader who is so obviously and easily in tune with his own origins?
However, far from being constrained by the parish pump, Taoiseach Cowen is evidently fêted across Europe and beyond, hailed equally in Turin as in Tullamore, as demonstrated, for example, by the Economist magazine ranking him the premier finance minister in Europe not so long ago and again from the generous and very real tributes from abroad on his accession.
Similarly, Tánaiste Coughlan's Donegal DNA appears no impediment to her success on the national and international stages, such as at the WTO talks where Mandelson Co grudgingly acknowledged her negotiating nous.
We are told now our former leader was that oxymoron "a global Dub" - and what a uniter he proved to be. It would seem his successor is indeed a "Global Gael", and I wish him every success. - Yours, etc,
JAMES LAWLESS,
Sallins Pier,
Sallins,
Co Kildare.