Madam, - Your report on Louis Le Brocquy's reception at Áras an Uachtaráin to mark his 90th birthday makes it clear how unfortunate it is that the Republic of Ireland has no honours system.
At Áras an Uachtaráin Le Brocquy received nothing more than a birthday gift.
If he were a British subject he would probably by now have received a high honour of some sort.
As it is, France, although Le Brocquy is not one of its citizens, has awarded him the Légion d'Honneur. Why should the Irish Republic eschew a system of honours to recognise the achievements of its citizens? - Yours, etc,
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COLIN ARMSTRONG, Saintfield Road, Belfast.