Sir, – Even if an Irishman demonstrates inventive genius, even if that man is from Castlebar, why would he be "honoured" by the Taoiseach ("Taoiseach pays graveside tribute to torpedo inventor from Castlebar", Home News, March 12th) for having developed weapons for the defence of the British Empire ? – Yours, etc,
DOMINIC CARROLL,
Ardfield,
Co Cork.
A chara, – I was intrigued by your report of the Taoiseach’s attendance at the unveiling of a new gravestone to Louis Brennan, inventor of a venerable weapon of mass destruction, the torpedo. This could set an interesting precedent. I am sure with an appropriate application of the Taoiseach’s “why, what and if” formula, we could unearth an Irish connection somewhere in the development of napalm, germ warfare, phosphorous bombs and depleted uranium shells. It is unfortunate that the “brilliance and resilience” of such entrepreneurial ingenuity is unlikely to be appreciated in the “cold, small and anonymous” places where the myriad victims of such inventions lie. – Is mise,
BRIAN PATTERSON,
Canal Street,
Ballybot,
Newry,
Co Down.