Sir, – Almost 20 years ago I lived in the south of Spain, where there was a local branch of the British Legion, helping ex-servicemen in the region. I had personal contact with three of these. One was a retired British squaddie, one was an old Swedish second World War veteran and one was an retired Irish soldier. While the organisation might be called the British Legion, the people it helps are truly international. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Dr Gareth P Keeley’s letter (November 8th) saddened me greatly. In the week of the 25th anniversary of the Enniskillen bombing, let us not forget that there were atrocities committed on both sides over many centuries. The poppy commemorates men and women – a great many of whom were Irish – who died defending their country or an ideology.
Wearing the poppy commemorates them; and that is neither offensive nor abhorrent to me as an Irish citizen.
Let’s grow up! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – In becoming the first TD to wear a poppy in the Dáil for 16 years, following in the footsteps of Labour Party TD Emmet Stagg and Fine Gael’s Paddy Harte and Brian Hayes, FG TD, Frank Feighan said “the peace process dividend has delivered a new politics which has allowed us to publicly respect all traditions on this island” (Home News, November 6th).
Mr Feighan, chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, also said he wore a poppy inside the Dáil as a symbolic gesture of inclusiveness and to remember the war dead.
Can we take it that next April, as a further symbolic gesture of inclusiveness and a continuation of publicly respecting all traditions on this island, Deputy Feighan will wear an Easter lily in Dáil Éireann to remember those Irish who died in that other war fighting for this small nation’s independence? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Why is it that I cannot buy a poppy for November 11th to honour Armistice day here in Ireland. Thousands of Irish gave their lives to help defeat Germany in two world wars.
Surely it is time for all countries to unite and honour those who made the supreme sacrifice in order that we might live in peace? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – May I suggest that those who wish to commemorate our countrymen, who fought valiantly to “defend small nations”, should be encouraged to wear a “Green Poppy”.
This would avoid the jingoistic and political grandstanding pomp which can compromise a genuine tribute to human sacrifice and tragedy. – Yours, etc,