Sir, - I read Harry Barnes`s article (August 10th) with a degree of incredulity. Mr Barnes seems to be a present-day Rip Van Winkle inhabiting some Sleepy Hollow in the North of Ireland. He has not yet awakened to the fact that not only do we in the Republic not wish to step back in time to a period that he inhabits in his imagination, but it would be a quite unnecessary trip for us to make.
Mr Barnes seems to believe that, like many ex-colonial states, we are fearful for our future and unable to stand up without the support of our former colonial masters. He actually states that "rejoining the Commonwealth could connect the Republic to a wide range of friendly countries around the world" (are they unfriendly at present?), "increase its diplomatic punch and possibly boost trading possibilities". At a time when our international reputation has never been so high, our "diplomatic punch" is unsurpassed in the US and elsewhere, our music, dance, theatre and literature are superb ambassadors world-wide, our trade flourishing, our economic progress the envy of many, can he be serious?
Come now, Mr Barnes, is it not the case that you want the Republic of Ireland to give Britain and the Commonwealth a boost by joining this nebulous organisation? You want the Celtic Tiger to lead the British Lion back to its glory days.
Admit the truth. The Commonwealth might like to have us, but we do not need the Commonwealth.-Yours, etc., M. M. Ireland,
Roundstone,
Co Galway.