Sir, – Diarmaid Ferriter, in "Kenny won't rise to mark a Republic holiday" (Opinion & Analysis, October 10th), suggests that, since the Government has rejected the idea of a national holiday on April 24th next to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the "workers of the Republic" should take a "green flu day" and simply "make themselves unavailable for work to mark the centenary of the declaration of the Irish Republic".
This suggestion has the merit of being entirely consistent with the subliminal message of the proposed commemoration or celebration of the centenary, namely that living and working for Ireland is of less value than killing and dying for Ireland. – Yours, etc,
FELIX M LARKIN
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18
Sir, – Surely with nine public holidays a year we can use one of them to commemorate 1916 next year? I would have thought the last thing our public sector, industry and elected TDs need is another public holiday financed by the hard-pressed taxpayers.
As for Prof Ferriter’s suggestion of a “green flu day ”, I think it is irresponsible.
It is clear he does not work in industry and has little interest in this country’s industrial reputation and competitiveness. – Yours, etc,
PETER DOYLE ,
Castletroy,
Limerick.
Sir, – It is amazing that the State has no holiday celebrating such an important date in its history as the 1916 Rising. Where I live, Colombia, we celebrate the declaration of independence (July 20th) and the decisive battle of Boyacá (August 7th), the day on which presidents are sworn in.
But the reality is that we don’t celebrate April 24th, not because of its divisive nature, but because there is an influential section of Irish society that is embarrassed by it and would rather apologise. It is the same section of society that was gung-ho about rescuing the banks and paying off the bondholders. Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó LOINGSIGH,
Bogotá,
Colombia.