JOE McGOWAN,
Sir, - I refer to the debate in your newspaper regarding the right of Constance Markievicz's husband to the title of count. Constance would have dismissed such sterile debate with style. Although coming from a family that decorated themselves liberally with titles, she turned her back on all of it to serve the oppressed of Ireland.
"Madame", the title of which she was most proud, was bestowed on her by the deprived and destitute of Dublin whom she served so well. De Valera in giving the oration at her graveside said: "Madame, the friend of the toiler, the lover of the poor. Ease and station she put aside and took the hard way of service with the weak and downtrodden."
In recognition of this service the Constance Markievicz Millennium Committee is currently erecting a memorial to her memory in her native county. - Yours, etc.,
JOE McGOWAN,
Committee chairman,
Cliffoney,
Co Sligo