Sir, – Following on the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland’s consulting its members on removing “royal” from its title, I see that it has been suggested that other organisations should consider a similar removal (“Irish ‘royal’ organisations should consider changing name, says philanthropist”, News, November 21st). It is clear that while this would be a matter a matter for each, a bandwagon effect could build up quite easily.
There are two reasons why this would be, in my view, regrettable.
First, “royal” designations and charters form part of our history whether we like it or not – to change them eradicates signifiers of former times, good or bad. I think that we are mature and confident enough now as a nation and a country to be able to acknowledge the past without having to bury it.
The second reason is equally important. If we are in any way serious about constructing an Ireland that might not be too alien to Northern loyalists, cultural comfort will have to be offered. After 1922, Southern ex-unionists were able to better adjust to the Free State precisely because it did not embark on an orgy of eradicating every vestige of the former regime. For instance, it left street names and post boxes bearing the royal cipher largely intact. It did not mandate the removal of “royal” from the titles of organisations and professional bodies, golf and yacht clubs. It may have been symbolic, but symbols matter.
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Likewise, in the context of aspiring to unity, we should be cautious about taking unilateral action that might adversely affect the realisation of that aspiration, however seemingly trivial. Symbols matter. – Yours, etc,
IAN d’ALTON,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Your editorial on royal honorifics (“The Irish Times view on the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland: what’s in a name?”, November 20th) conflates the Royal College of General Practitioners – a UK organisation– with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
They are as distinct as The Irish Times and the (London) Times. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.
Sir, – As a puzzled child, I asked my mother, a stalwart Southern unionist, when such categories existed, why the Royal Irish Automobile Club and other Dublin institutions such as the Royal Dublin Society held on to their monikers in a republic. Her reply: “We had kings in Ireland long before the English.” – Yours, etc,
ANTONY FARRELL,
Dublin 7.