Madam, – The good decision to invite Brian Lenihan to speak at Béal na mBláth and the demonstrably warm reception he (and his speech) received there is of more than symbolic importance (Home News, August 23rd). It is hard evidence of the fact that the differences between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are, essentially, historical and tribal. On the fundamentals that matter nowadays (or, indeed, that ever mattered) their differences are largely ones of emphasis. The silly and tasteless attempt by Senator Liam Twomey to revive tribal antagonisms was seen for what it was – opportunistic and anachronistic.
Surely the logic of this welcome roadside rapprochement is for the electorate to take a more radical look at the political market. The alternative to Fianna Fáil is not Fine Gael, but Labour. Civil War politics, however understandable, never made sense. It is all the more ludicrous now that forgiveness appears to have broken out between the two sides. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Notwithstanding Brian Lenihan’s obvious admiration of Michael Collins, it seems inconceivable, knowing what we do of Collins, that he would have favoured the interests of international bondholders over those of Irish citizens. – Yours, etc,