Sir, – Elizabeth Healy's letter of January 25th brought out of the shadows a fine watercolourist, publisher and patriot, about whom I wrote a book produced by Wordwell last year.
A man who did so much in the 19th century to make Ireland aware of the European status of its artistic and monumental heritage does not deserve to have us leave his grave unmarked in Glasnevin cemetery.
Oscar Wilde made the world realise that it was O’Neill’s book on high crosses of 1857 that led to the Celtic cross becoming the popular form of tombstone throughout the country and beyond, and it was also Wilde who set up a fund to support the artist in his penurious old age, to which none other than the British prime minister, William Ewart Gladstone, contributed.
I shall certainly respond to Ms Healy’s call to set up a Celtic cross over O’Neill’s grave – and would encourage others to do so too. – Yours, etc,
PETER HARBISON,
Loughshinny, Co Dublin.