Sir, - The thoughtful articles of Fintan O'Toole and Patrick Comerford (Irish Times, December 9th) present important considerations in commemorating 1798. While 1798 was primarily a Protestant affair, at its purest, Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter was the common denominator. Bagenal Harvey, Matthew Keogh, Nicholas Grey and William Hatton share the honour with the likes of the great Father Murphy.
Protestants, of course, were the founders (Wolfe Tone) and foster fathers (Thomas Davis) of modern Irish nationalism. Henry Joy McCracken was a hero.
The commemoration provides a great opportunity for Orange and Green to blend productively as fate, it seems, designed and destined them to do. - Yours, etc.,
Cedarmount Road, Mount Merrion.