A chara, - There were many unionists in Dublin on the weekend of the recent riots. However, not all of them were standing with William Frazer in Parnell Square.
Some unionists carried no union jacks, wore no uniforms and displayed no banners. They were attending a rugby game at Lansdowne Road, supporting the Irish rugby team against Wales. Such visits are normal occurrences, clearly indicating that unionists are always welcome in Dublin.
If the only concern of William Frazer and his group is to commemorate the dead, no matter how selectively, there should be no necessity for drums, uniforms, flags or flutes. The triumphant parading of such trappings can create tension, being reminiscent of previous marches forced through nationalist areas of the six counties.
If the Garda permits the rescheduling of the Dublin march, there should be a strict requirement that it proceeds without unnecessary trappings. If William Frazer and his group refuse to march under such a condition it will be clear to all that the proposed march has little to do with remembrance and much to do with provocation. - Is mise,
EJ FANNING, Whitehall Road, Dublin 14.
Madam, - I have been following with interest the writings of Kevin Myers on the subject of the 1916 Rising. I must congratulate him on his stance. Fintan O'Toole has also done much to highlight the victims of that insurgency.
Many of us fail to appreciate the reality of the events of Easter 1916. However, this can easily be put into a modern context for everyone, because it happened again 11 days ago - ironically, on the same street.
It is the people who rioted in Dublin on February 25th who are the true inheritors of the spirit of 1916 - an unelected, unrepresentative minority, who used violence to express their aims.
Once again, those who suffered in the short term are the people and businesses of Dublin. Once again, the long-term damage will be to the relationship between the communities in Northern Ireland.
Will we ever learn from history? - Yours, etc,
STEPHEN REDMOND, Daletree Avenue, Dublin 24.
Madam, - When Orangemen in Derry talked to the Bogside community groups last year, agreement was reached and the Orangemen were able to march in peace in that nationalist town. When unionists engage with the SDLP and Sinn Féin in realistic political talks, then over time there is a possibility that their people will be truly welcome to march in Dublin. Unfortunately, the unionist majority in the North has voted for the DUP, who now block the political process. The main speaker at the Dublin rally was to be Jeffrey Donaldson, whose negative mantra has never varied in his political life.
As a native of Derry, I am aware of marching Orange bands and the fear and loathing they engendered in my youth. I could not believe that they would be accepted in Dublin, given their community's recent rejection of political dialogue. The websites of Fair and Love Ulster show no love of nationalists. It did not surprise me that there was trouble here on the day. But it angered me that the gardaí facilitated the demonstrators by steering them secretly to Leinster House so that they could strut their stuff.
When the Protestants of Ulster really engage with the Catholics of Ulster in political talks, they can be safely welcomed in Dublin. But that will not happen in the short term. - Yours, etc,
MUREDACH DOHERTY, Lower Beechwood Avenue, Dublin 6.
Madam, - In his latest cut at the Labour Party Leader, Vincent Browne criticises Pat Rabbitte for not applying the "traditional left-wing analysis" to the Dublin riots (Opinion, March 1st).
If Vincent Browne really believes that "alienation" caused the O'Connell Street disturbances, he is even more out of touch than I thought. - Yours, etc,
JIM MURPHY, Clontarf, Dublin 3.