Sir, - I fully endorse Kevin Myers's comments (An Irishman's Diary, October 6th) on the courage of our helicopter pilots, who risk their lives assisting those in peril off our shores. The remarkable men and women of the RNLI fall into the same category and, if it's not politically incorrect to mention them, the RAF crews on whom sailors depended so heavily prior to the introduction of our own coastal rescue service.
The good news is that Mr Myers's search for the only child in independent Ireland with an awareness that the Titanic was created in Ireland is at an end. A perusal of our society membership lists over the 12 years of our existence provide countless examples. What is more heartening is that the message will continue through future generations, due in part to illustrated talks to school children, who are fascinated by the subject.
While in the past there was little encouragement or reading material available to those with an interest in Irish maritime matters, the current position shows promising signs of improvement. In this regard the initiative by Dublin Corporation Public Libraries in organising a series of maritime related events and talks, arranged by the Open Learning Centre at Dublin's Central Library, ILAC Centre, deserves the highest commendation. On October 7th we were delighted to contribute with a Titanic- and Lusitania-related exhibition and illustrated lecture, which emphasised the Irish connections with these liners.
Finally, Mr Myers will, I'm sure, be pleased to note that a Lusitania memorial was unveiled on the Old Head of Kinsale by the late Hugh Coveney on May 7th, 1995. The Dublin media were conspicuous by their lack of coverage of the event, so there is probably a greater awareness of the Old Head memorial overseas, through reports in our journal, than in some parts of Ireland.
Which brings us back to his point about awareness of the sea around us. We have a journal which helps to preserve stories of the sea. Mr Myers has a newspaper column which reaches a larger audience; perhaps therefore, part of the solution lies within his own control? - Yours, etc.
Ed Coghlan, Chairman, The Irish Titanic Historical Society, The Anchorage, Coast Road, Malahide, Co Dublin.