Madam, - As a child during the 1960s, I hero-worshipped the rebels of 1916 and the War of Independence, not least because my maternal grandfather was Cathal Brugha. As a child I saw him as a hero and a saint, and the Rising as a glorious and righteous failure. I also had a caricature view of "the British", that they were pretty much evil through and through.
Well that was quite some time ago. At this stage I have come full circle. While I'm still proud of my grandfather's bravery and believe he was sincere, nevertheless I believe it would have been far better if the Rising and War of Independence had never happened, and the Collinses and DeValeras and Brughas had all stayed at home and raised their families in peace.
Had Home Rule been allowed to pursue its course, Ireland, north and south, would have had a far more peaceful and prosperous time since. I don't see any real difference between the IRA then and now. Back then they murdered police officers, Protestants, Catholics, and they have been doing exactly that in recent decades too.
I'm glad that people such as Kevin Myers get to air their views on this and other topics nationally. We haven't faced up to the realities of how our State was founded through mindless murder and mayhem. Until we do, there is a danger of the same evil taking over again. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL FERRITER , Beaverton, Oregon, USA.