Madam, - Thank you so much for a wonderful record of the Queen's visit. Your supplement (Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, May 21st) was brilliant. I've just seen the Obama supplement (May 24th) and it's equally wonderful. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'KEEFFE,
St Helen's Road,
Booterstown, Co Dublin.
A chara, - Having helpfully identified all of the individuals who dined at Dublin Castle on Day 2 of the Queen's visit (Queen Elizabeth in Ireland, May 21st) at taxpayers' expense, can we now call on the Revenue Commissioners to issue appropriate benefit-in-kind assessments? - Is mise,
GREG SCANLON,
Ballycasey Manor,
Shannon, Co Clare.
Madam, - Your Editorial (May 21st) was predictably over-the-top in its assessment of the recent visit by the Queen of England. Yet again you fail to acknowledge Article 3.1 of the Constitution which enshrines the noble aspiration to Irish unity.
Much of the commentary concerning the visit suggested that it was a sign of our maturity and self-confidence as a nation. Indeed your Editorial went further in stating that "it took a British queen to remind us that we are still a free, sovereign country, equal to any other". Might I dissent from the prevailing hysteria and suggest that a mature and confident State would have availed of the opportunity provided by the visit to refer to Britain's unacceptable role in the six counties and to re-state, in line with the aforementioned Article of the Constitution, our wish to achieve Irish unity. So long as the current impasse prevails relating to the national question, relations between Britain and Ireland may not be considered normal.
It is acknowledged that the Belfast Agreement accepts the wishes of the majority of the people of the six counties in relation to its constitutional status. This should not be confused with acceptance of Britain's historical partitionist and unjust role. Recognition of the status quo in no way diminishes the aspiration to Irish unity. - Yours, etc,
NESSAN VAUGHAN,
Seapoint Court,
Baldoyle, Dublin 13.
Madam, - Brian Sugrue (May 23rd) believes our President said "Wow" in response to the Queen's use of the cúpla focal. I was sitting nearby (to my TV) and heard her say "Maith thú", which, of course, translates as "Hear, hear" (which obviously Mr Sugrue didn't). - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KEEGAN,
South Avenue,
Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.
Madam, - As an Englishman who has been resident in Ireland for more than 40 years, may I express my wholly positive sentiments on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's successful visit to these shores.
I feel doubly proud. I am proud that my own head of state rose to the occasion with the magnanimity and appreciation that Ireland deserves. I am equally proud that President McAleese and the whole of Ireland also displayed warmth, dignity and eloquence to show off the best of Ireland and the Irish nation.
There can be no excuse for the condescension displayed in the past by members of the British nation, and particularly sections of its press; nor, I believe, for the people of Ireland to feel in any way inferior to or patronised by those who live across the Irish Sea.
I grew up with Irish neighbours, and I accepted them as normal; I was shocked to realise when I arrived in 1969 how far the Irish nation lived in the shadow of Britain. Those days, I hope, are over forever. We should now put past attitudes behind us and build on collaboration and friendship for a better future for ourselves, our partners in Europe and the world. - Yours, etc,
Prof RON HILL,
Fellow Emeritus,
Trinity College,
Dublin.