Sir, Maurice Manning's timely article justly reminds us of our debt to the first democratic government of this state and the sensible Constitution under which it governed. What subsequently occurred was a disaster and probably set the nation back 50 years with the consequence we have all become increasingly aware of over the last 20-30 years. This all reminds me of the man who described deValera as "The greatest national disaster since Jim Roche".
Who was that acute individual and why was Jim Roche a national disaster? I know most of the answer. I hope someone knows it all. - Yours, etc.,
Albert College Lawn,
Dublin 9.