Sir, – The audacity of Mervyn Taylor from Roscommon opining that the former fifth province of Meath, foolishly divided centuries ago into counties Meath and Westmeath, should be conjoined once again, with Tara as its capital (Letters, April 1st). Very obviously, if this were ever to happen, the real capital of Meath would be Uisneach in Co Westmeath, Ireland's mythological and sacred centre, also known as Umbilicus Hiberniae, Axis Mundi and the navel of Ireland. The name Meath is the anglicised version of Midhe, meaning "middle" or "centre", which originally referred to the area around the Hill of Uisneach and had no connection with Tara. Taken to its logical conclusion, then, the present-day county of Meath should be renamed Eastmeath! – Yours, etc,
EMER HUGHES,
Moate,
Co Westmeath.
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A chara, – With the potential reunification of Meath, the already reunified Tipperary and the lack of interest in splitting Dublin in two, is it time for West Cork to step forward to preserve the dream of a 32-county Republic? – Is mise,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,
Dublin 24.