Madam, - Aaron McCalister (February 15th) bemoans the fact that the Presidential Salute was played at Croke Park last week, with "Tricolours flying all around the ground. Yet there was no sign of any representation or support for the Northern Irish players or supporters".
I can't help thinking that Mr McCalister is unaware of where President McAleese comes from, and what the Irish Tricolour actually represents. The Tricolour predates the political partition of Ireland by over 70 years, and was always intended to represent the whole island, not the modern-day 26-county republic.
It gives equal prominence to both communities in Ireland, and represents the admirable notion of them living together in peace. Given that the Irish rugby team is one of the best examples of that ideal being put into practice, I can't think of a more appropriate flag for supporters to wave.
I don't believe the team is intended to represent "two countries", as Mr McCalister says, but a single island. The political status of Ireland, both North and South, has changed a number of times since the IRFU came into existence, but thankfully that has never prevented one team, made up of men from both communities, from representing the whole island.
- Yours, etc,
KILIAN KELLY, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England.
Madam, - Aaron McCalister is incorrect in saying that people from Northern Ireland could not feel safe flying their flag at Croke Park. Three flags flew proudly beside the Hill 16 - the blue, white and red of France, the green, white and orange of Ireland and finally the yellow flag with the red hand of Ulster.
Northern Ireland does not have an international team. However in a gesture of compromise it was decided that before home internationals Ireland would sing the embarrassing Ireland's Callas well as the national anthem. As far as I am aware God Save the Queenis not sung by either the Scots or the Welsh.
With regards to the playing of God Save the Queenat Croke Park, why not? It's quite catchy!
- Yours, etc,
ALAN MURPHY, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.
Madam, - A minute's silence before the Ireland v England rugby international at Croke Park would be very much appreciated.
- Yours, etc,
BRENDAN MORAN, Loreto Grange, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - Like most nationalists, Gearóid Kilgallon (February 13th) displays total disregard for the rights and sensibilities of unionists: he thinks the IRFU should ensure that all Ireland's players learn the words of Ámhrán na bhFiann.
Does he realise that every squad includes a number of unionists and that the vast majority of Northern rugby followers are unionists for whom Irish is a foreign language?
It is sad that when the two enemy tribes on this island voluntarily join forces to play international rugby most nationalists insist that our "nationalist" anthem be sung. Have we ever considered offering our unionist team-mates the opportunity of singing their anthem, be it The Sash, God save the Queen, or whatever they fancy? Likewise, have we ever considered putting an orange stripe into the green jersey?
Over the years, the forbearance of the unionist rugby fraternity in not telling us where to stuff our nationalist anthem truly amazes me. The recent introduction of the neutral Ireland's Call,which we can all sing with gusto, is most welcome.
- Yours, etc,
DICK KEANE, Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.