Political veneration?

Sir,– Fintan O'Toole is to be commended for his article questioning the value of the veneration of recently deceased political leaders ("Turning our dead taoisigh into 'great leaders'", Opinion & Analysis, September 9th).

Living in London, I was shocked by the glorification of Margaret Thatcher at the time of her death, and it was certainly interesting to see a similarly beatific portrayal of Albert Reynolds in the national media upon his passing.

While it is easier to write a laudatory piece of prose upon the death of a former leader, Fintan O’Toole should be praised for embracing the ambiguity and conflicting viewpoints that most often surround a life in politics. – Yours, etc,

MARK CURRAN,

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