Invitations to celebrate 1916

Sir, – I was heartened by Brian Hayes's remark ( Irish Times report, April 21st) at the State commemoration of the 1916 Rising that "the idea that either the royal family or other countries in the European Union wouldn't be invited ... is wrong".

Surely this must mean at the very least that representatives of comparable status from countries within and without the EU which were the “gallant allies” of the Irish rebellion – Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey – will also be invited in recognition of their assistance to that brave endeavour. Anything short of this would be a travesty. Yours, etc,

PHILIP O’CONNOR,

St Peter’s Terrace,

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Howth,

Dublin 13