Sir, - Medb Ruane(November 22nd) says: "History is big enough to include both Kitty Kiernan and Hazel Lavery, without staging a cat fight based around the affections of Michael Collins". Correct! History, and fiction too. I am pleased to record that Kitty Kiernan's son, Felix Cronin, observed that my Michael Collins novel Rebel Heart "depicted Kitty in great taste".
So too, I hope, will my play Kitty, in which Kitty will be joined by Sean MacEoin's fiancee (later his wife), Alice Cooney, and a maid in Kiernan's Greville performed by Lyncairn Theatre, will open in Backstage Theatre, Longford on February 6th.
One important point should be considered by fiction, "faction" and perhaps even non-fiction writers. There are many close relatives of celebrated men and women of this period of history still living. Their sensitivities should not be offended for the sake of headline hype or hyperbole. Rebel Heart received no headlines (just good reviews!), nor will Kitty. Is sleaze a prerequisite for accolades? - Yours, etc.,
Mullingar.