Sir, – So now we have a former president, Mary McAleese, perpetuating the dubious notion that the 1916 Proclamation when using the phrase "children of the nation" was literally referring to little boys and girls ("Mary McAleese calls for Yes vote in marriage referendum", April 13th).
Is it not more likely that the reference was to those northern unionists who were against home rule and had been preparing to oppose it by force? The Proclamation was attempting to assuage their fears that they would suffer discrimination in the new republic that was being declared.
No French person when they sing the stirring words of the Marseillaise "Allons enfants de la patrie" believe they are a call for children to storm the barricades. Can't we think in poetry once in a while? – Yours, etc,
EUGENE McELDOWNEY,
Howth,
Co Dublin.