Madam, - Thomas Russell (July 23rd), who considers that that the statue of the Duke of Wellington in the town of Trim is inappropriate and should be replaced, is completely mistaken in his belief that the duke was an opponent of Catholic Emancipation.
As Mr Russell would discover if he read Meath Heritage Centre's booklet on the duke and his Irish connections, the duke worked "long and hard" as prime minister to gain support for his Roman Catholic Relief Bill, which was passed in 1829.
Also, in earlier times around 1808, in a bid as chief secretary of Ireland to reduce friction between Protestants and Catholics, he had "refused the Orangemen permission to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the 1798 rebels at Vinegar Hill".
The last anachronistic relic of Catholic discrimination in Britain - the bar against a Catholic becoming King or Queen - awaits a champion. Perhaps Mr Russell would like to run with this one. - Yours etc.,
TONY CAREY
Glencree Rd.,
Enniskerry,
Co Wicklow.
*****
Madam, - Perhaps Thomas Dion Russell might also like to consider the huge obelisk in the Phoenix Park.
Truly, there are Wellingtons stuck everywhere in this mire.
To defend monuments to Wellington based on his Irish provenance is a bit feeble given his famous comment that: "Being born in a stable does not make one a horse." Russell's point is a good one.
The country is awash with colonial hangovers. Precious little acknowledgement is made of the thousands upon thousands who wasted their lives struggling for the liberty we treat so lightly.
Given the times, surely a monument to Emmet of similar proportions to the Wellington Monument might be a good start? Absurd, probably, but then what do you call a 205-foot monument to a person who held the nation and its people in contempt? - Yours, etc.,
JOHN HUGHES,
Ballyshannon,
Co Donegal.
*****
Madam, - I am a British person currently living and working in Ireland and I find myself somewhat perplexed by Mr Russell's letter (July 23rd). I am not a nationalist - anything but - and I find myself achieving a growing affinity with this country.
The monument that Mr Russell refers to was erected in 1817 and is a piece of history.
Does Mr Russell suggest that we remove it, place it in a back alley somewhere and erect another Spire in its place?
Arthur Wellesley was born in Dublin in 1769. He was educated at the Diocesan School at Trim, stood for Parliament for Trim and later became prime minister of Great Britain and Ireland in 1828. As far as I am aware the Duke of Wellington made a great contribution to Co Meath and the town of Trim.
If the Duke of Wellington is deemed to be an embarrassment because of his opposition to the Roman Catholic Relief Act, then perhaps a statue of William Pitt would go down better.
Or failing that perhaps a Bertie face mask could save the country €4.5 million.
The French are currently out of favour in America and so I expect soon to hear about the demolition of the Statue of Liberty and its suitable replacement. - Yours, etc.,
TERRY MAKEWELL,
Baily,
Co Dublin.
*****
Madam, - Instead of enjoying Ireland's historical sites and monuments, perhaps Mr Russell should apply himself more vigorously to his studies.
The Duke of Wellington was not an opponent of Catholic Emancipation, quite the opposite in fact.
He remains one of the outstanding battlefield generals in the history of warfare and it is right that Wellington should be remembered for saving Europe from Napoleon.
Perhaps if he had paid more attention to his books, Mr Russell would already know that Wellington was born in Ireland and that there really is no "dilemma" at all.
To try to understand the complexities of Irish history in one summer is a gargantuan task, and Mr Russell should be told that Irish summers are particularly short. - Yours etc.,
JOHN D. O'DONOGHUE,
Landsboro' Gardens,
Rochestown,
Cork.