Sir, - Let me take this opportunity, as a young supporter of Fine Gael, to join Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, August 27th) in lamenting the apparent enthusiasm for the memory of Michael Collins and in expressing sorrow for the idea that he should be some kind of exciting historical figurehead for the party.
Instead, let the members of our party emphasise the proud inheritance that Fine Gael shares from our forgotten former parliamentarians who struggled at Westminster.
O'Connell, Parnell, Redmond and Dillon struggled for decades for moderation, reform and agreement using nothing more than strong language and a persuasive argument to achieve their ends. Fine Gael should be proud to promote the tradition of Irish parliamentarians who used process, reason and the law to change the Irish social environment and improve people's lives. The Land Acts, disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and Catholic Emancipation may seem to be uninspiring achievements today, but they were great progressive movements of parliamentary power and reform.
Our true inheritance is the upholding of democracy and the rule of law in the face of violence and the establishment and protection of the first democratic, parliamentary Irish government. Let us carry on and promote that honourable tradition and forget the populist and romantic indulgences of far shallower parties! - Yours, etc.,
Ronan Guckian, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.