A chara, - Recently I have been reading The Great Push by Patrick MacGill, in which the author gives a first-hand account of his experiences in one small theatre of the first World War, and describes the slaughter, the terror, the inhumanity and the utter futility of it all.
Last night on my television screen I saw young Irish soldiers taking part in a mock battle in the Glen of Imaal in preparation for "peace-keeping and peace-enforcing" duties with the Rapid Reaction Force/Partnership for Peace - i.e. as part of a European army.
I now ask the question: Are we going to send young Irish soldiers to fight for a European empire just as an earlier generation sent young Irishmen to fight for the British Empire? - Is mise,
TOMÁS O RAGHALLAIGH,
Killeshandra,
Co Cavan.