Madam, - As Thomas Russell (July 23rd) strolls around this country of ours I'm sure he will notice many differences between here and his native land. In the United States they don't shop in British retail stores. Americans don't travel on double-decker buses. They don't eat fish and chips. I doubt they watch Sky Sports with pints in hand, shouting for Arsenal or Manchester United. Neither, as he so eloquently pointed out, do they have monuments to the Duke of Wellington.
Arthur Wellesley, like many things, is part of that great contradiction of being Irish. Mr Russell claims he should be replaced with "with a son or daughter of the country".
I regret to inform him that the late Duke of Wellington was born in May 1769 at No. 24 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin to an Irish Protestant family. I suspect that Mr Russell feels that being one of Britain's greatest ever generals as well as a former prime minister disqualifies him as a "true" Irishman.
Mr Russell is not correct when he states Wellington opposed Catholic Emancipation. Although Wellington had previously opposed Catholic Emancipation, he reconsidered his view after contemplating the political implications of rejection in Ireland.
In fact, Wellington threatened to resign unless King George IV (who was violently opposed to Catholic Emancipation because of his coronation oath) agreed to the change in the law.
As a consequence he lost the support of much of the Tory party and was removed soon after.
As well as being known as "The Iron Duke", Wellington's other nicknames were "Europe's Liberator" and "Saviour of the Nations".
Perhaps we should move the monument to Europe as they may be more appreciative than the people of his native land. Let's not forget his other monument either.
At 62.5 metres, the Phoenix Park Obelisk is the second- highest in the world (being exceeded only by the Washington Monument) and currently is in a vandalised state.
Modern Ireland should come to terms with its history, not airbrush whole swathes of people out as if their faces don't fit. - Yours etc.,
SHANE JOHNSTON,
Thornhill Road,
Mount Merrion,
Dublin.
*****
Madam, -Maybe it would be better to leave well(ington) enough alone? - Yours etc.,
T.L. CULLETON,
Turvey Drive,
Donabate,
Co Dublin.