Madam, – How nice to see the very well choreographed visit of Her Royal Highness ensuring that significant gestures of reconciliation can be demonstrated by a visit to Croke Park, the scene of a massacre and a visit to the Memorial Garden.
What a pity that Gerry Adams and his cronies hadn’t the guts to turn up and show that the past can be consigned to history and that we have the maturity as a nation to move on. I welcome the day that Sinn Féin can visit Bradford, Birmingham, Omagh and the many other scenes of carnage and heartbreak to show that they are sorry and to help people move on – I won’t hold my breath. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – While it is agreeable to let bygones by bygones in a civilised manner, one can’t help feeling perturbed at the extravagance of the gesture in these parsimonious times. One finds it tiresome to share one’s footsoldiers and one is most inconvenienced by not having access to places of industry and leisure. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The burning of the Union Jack, and subsequent violence that accompanied Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Dublin city, have led me to question just how much our country has moved on since independence. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – There have been complaints that some people were protesting against the royal visit while wearing English football jerseys; yet no one objects to those who disagree with American foreign policy supporting Hollywood films. – Is mise,
Madam, – Kevin Byrne (May 19th) bemoans the fact that “the horses at a Kildare stud will have complete access to the Queen”, yet ordinary people will not get to meet her. At least the Queen is demonstrating a willingness to listen to neigh-sayers? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – €30 million – a king’s ransom to protect the Queen. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – History has been made and this is very welcome. However, this seems to have confused some of our high-profile media commentators. We do live in a Republic and all citizens are equal. Yet I keep hearing that the “ordinary citizens” may not be able to see Queen Elizabeth.
All citizens in our Republic are “ordinary” and of equal importance. Media commentators, remember that you also are “ordinary”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Queen meeting our President, ONE to ONE? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I find it somewhat ironic that many of those who profess themselves to be republicans hide behind hoodies and balaclavas when protesting against the visit of Queen Elizabeth, while those who wish to welcome her to Ireland are quite happy to be seen without any such protection. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – As I watched the Queen’s procession through empty Dublin streets, I wondered about the point of this State visit when the people of the State can’t and won’t be part of it. Whether we like to admit it or not, maybe the reason why a British monarch never visited our country is still as relevant today as it ever was. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – George Miller (May 18th) is being unfair to Ryanair. Queen Elizabeth may have landed in the middle of nowhere, but at least Ryanair would have allowed her and Prince Phillip some hand baggage. – Yours, etc,