A chara, - We can share with "An Irishman's Diary" (February 6th) concern at the neglect of Thomas Moore, but we can also assure him that Moore is far from forgotten. Athol Books were, recently compelled to bring out a second edition of our publication The Life and Poems of Thomas Moore, by Brendan Clifford.
The real tragedy about Moore is the neglect of his prose. The O'Connell movement relegated his prose writings to oblivion; it was beyond its power to do anything about the Melodies. It put about the idea that he was a vain and insubstantial individual, who had succumbed to the flattery of English aristocrats.
The trouble with Moore is that, while he did, not become a tool of English aristocracy, neither did he compromise with the Catholic nationalism of Daniel O'Connell.
was a friend of Robert Emmet when O'Connell was a Yeoman, and he kept on writing in the United Irish spirit to the end of his life.
Athol Books has also published Political and Historical Writings on Irish and British Affairs by Moore and his Letter to the Roman Catholics of Dublin, contained in the book The Veto Controversy. All publications are available from the address below.
Yours, etc.
Publisher, Athol Books,
POBox 159,
Cork City.