Sir, - In his report on academic interest in the Ulster-Scots (The Irish Times, April 9th), Patrick Smyth seems to imply that their heritage is not part of Irish nationality, but is the exclusive property of the unionist community. William Orr would turn in his grave at that notion!
Ambassador O hUiginn referred to 18th-century emigration as "Presbyterian", and implied that the exodus that took place after the Famine was "Catholic". This simplification does not do justice to the diversity of these population flows.
The many Ulster-Scots who opposed British rule in America would hardly have supported it in Ireland, had they stayed at home. Realisation of this should be a proud part of what Mr McGimpsey calls "the self-image of our people."
I notice that a reviewer in your EL supplement recently scorned the Red Hand as a loyalist symbol. He might have recalled that it is of ancient Celtic origin and rejoiced that the loyalists are Irish enough to cherish it. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Drury, Avenue Louise, Brussels.