Madam, - Another significant second World War anniversary is approaching - on June 6th it will be exactly 60 years since the the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Nowadays, there is almost universal agreement about the rightness - and the necessity - of the Allied cause. But the position of the Republic is still confused.
There is no doubt that wartime neutrality was well justified in the context of the time and in the light of the resources, defences and knowledge then available. But the contribution to the Allied cause by many Irishmen has been largely ignored.
These men (many still living) are not really remembered. Yet history has justified their actions and their bravery. They helped to lay the foundation of the new Europe.
We must not repeat the almost unforgivable delay that occurred in remembering at Messines, Belgium, the Irish who fought in the first World War. While that commemoration marked a milestone in our generosity, it is worth bearing in mind that not a single survivor from the Republic lived to see the day.
This must not be allowed to happen to the second World War veterans. The Irish Government should forthwith acquire from France a patch of ground in Normandy that will be forever Ireland, forever a field of Irish liberty, and more especially a monument to our generosity to all our citizens and to the new Europe. - Yours etc.,
JOHN O'MAHONY, Renmore, Galway.