Madam, – Strictly speaking, John A. Murphy (June 12th) is correct when he writes that there was “no mention whatever of crossroads, or maidens there” in Eamon de Valera’s address on Radio Éireann on March 17th, 1943.
However, the words “comely maidens” did appear in the official text, although de Valera actually said “happy maidens”.
Perhaps, not for the first or last time, de Valera said one thing and meant another. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK O’BYRNE,
Shandon Crescent,
Dublin 7.
Madam, – I’n his 1943 St Patrick’s Day radio address, de Valera expressed the hope that Ireland would become “a land whose countryside would be bright with cosy homesteads, whose fields and villages would be joyous with the sounds of industry, with the romping of sturdy children, the contest of athletic youths and the laughter of happy maidens, whose firesides would be forums for the wisdom of serene old age”.
While we can rightly criticise the speaker for failing to properly tackle unemployment and emigration, we must also surely applaud any speech that celebrates industry, health, sport, human happiness and respect for the elderly. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BOUCHIER-HAYES,
Gortboy,
Newcastle West,
Co Limerick.