Sir, - Kevin Myers is a little over the top in his Irishman's Diary of May 25th, in which he castigates students for their poor knowledge of history. Surely he must acknowledge that everyone does not have a interest in matters martial as he (and I) do. Even so, his assertion that Leaving Certificate students "almost certainly" could not tell you the significance of the year 1939 is not proven and, if I may say, a little histrionic.
He makes the point that a couple of years ago, students on Challenging Times were unable to tell him the context of Kevin Barry's execution. Their failure to do so clearly continues to irritate him. I can see them cowering in their bedsits in Rathmines. What about those lads from Athlone who in 1997 didn't know the genus to which the beech tree belongs. Poor show, indeed!
Mr Myers's efforts on behalf of the fallen of the first World War over the years have added greatly to the national knowledge of the period and Ireland's role in it, but his reprimand to history teachers and, by extension, to the rest of us for not remembering John Condon this week is far-fetched. Condon's story is interesting but it is ultimately a footnote. I suspect the writer of indulging in one-upmanship at this point.
As years progress there is a necessary distillation of historical figures in the public mind. Sometimes individuals such as Mr Myers enliven our memory and this is commendable; but it is a bit much to expect all of the people to remember all of the heroes/victims for all time. Condon's significance is that he died at 14 as a soldier in the British Army. There were many other soldiers and many other 14-year-olds in many other wars.
I would argue that a general appreciation of the nature of human conflict, its realities and consequences, is more important than the Guinness Book of Records style of facts for which Mr Myers has a particular fondness, and for the most part I believe younger people possess these insights. The film Saving Private Ryan was flawed, but did portray the horror of war, unlike the romantic, imperial adventure books to which John Condon's generation was exposed. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Aidan Collins, St Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin 3.