Madam, – As someone who has serious “legacy issues” with the reign of terror inflicted on this country by the Provisional IRA and other paramilitary organisations, I take issue with the statement by Gerry Adams in relation to the proposed visit of Queen Elizabeth to the Republic. His statement about the visit . . . “and of the offence it will cause to many Irish citizens, particularly victims of British rule and those with legacy issues in this state and in the North . . .” smacks of a denial which Mr Adams willingly holds on to (Breaking News, March 4th).
While not for a moment absolving Britain of its role in our unsavoury history, it is timely to remind the reader that as Mr Adams embarks on his crusade to bring “True Republican values to the Dáíl” that some of us have better memories than him of what those values have also meant – my personal experiences and indeed the pages of Lost Lives give adequate testimony also.
For many Irish and those also of English origin who may reside here, the visit will be seen in a positive context particularly in the light of improved relationships between our countries following the Belfast Agreement and its overwhelming endorsement by the Irish people North and South. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Republican Sinn Féin will actively oppose the visit of the Queen of England to the 26-county State in order to send out a clear message to the world that British rule in Ireland is neither normal nor acceptable. We are calling on all Republican-minded people throughout Ireland and abroad to mobilise now in opposition to this visit.
The announcement of the visit by the head of the British state marks the culmination of a carefully orchestrated campaign by the political establishments in Leinster House, Stormont and Westminster to normalise the partition and continued British occupation of Ireland.
Republican Sinn Féin will provide leadership as well as active opposition to this visit. Our campaign will involve activities throughout Ireland including a protest at the gates of Leinster House on March 9th. We would urge all who believe in Ireland’s inalienable right to nationhood to come out and join the protests. – Is mise,
Madam – The description, in The Irish Times and elsewhere, of the proposed visit of Queen Elizabeth to Dublin as the first visit of a British monarch to Ireland since 1911 prompts some questions.
What about the June 1921 visit of George V to Belfast to open the new Northern Parliament? The whole island was still part of the United Kingdom, though the Dáil asserted otherwise. The king was still, according to his formal titles, King of Ireland, so he was in both the political and geographical senses, visiting Ireland.
Then there is the obvious confusion today between the official name of the independent Irish state (Ireland) and the universally accepted name of the island, something that was conveniently overlooked in the Belfast Agreement and still is in any discussion of revision of Bunreacht na hÉireann.
As British monarchs are, and have been, regular visitors to the island of Ireland, it is, to say the least, a bit odd to assert that this year’s visit will be the first to Ireland since 1911. The implication is either that Northern Ireland is not part of “Ireland”, so we should perhaps find an alternative name for the island, or that it lacks legitimacy and should, by rights, be part of the political unit governed from Dublin.
Common sense, and the political maturity of which the Belfast Agreement is cited as evidence, suggest the obvious solution is to change the name of the southern state. It was, after all, “the Irish Republic” which was proclaimed in 1916, so now might be an opportune time to make that, or the “Republic of Ireland” the official designation. – Yours, etc,