Sir, - In receiving the gift of Christ offered by the Church of Ireland in Christ Church Cathedral a new President was heralding the coming of a truly new Ireland. A transcendent moment of reconciliation on the metaphysical journey of a sadly separated people, a symbol of hope. As a chance Presbyterian visitor from North Antrim, thoughts came of Austin Clarke's confusion and sadness when he attended the obsequies of Douglas Hyde in the old Ireland of almost 60 years ago and of how, on Sunday, had he been alive, he would surely have been rejoicing. - Yours, etc., John Robb,
Charlotte Street,
Ballymoney,
Co Antrim.