Madam - Frank Meehan (August 9th) suggests changing the national flag on the grounds that it is used by the IRA and Sinn Féin and that a new flag based on St Patrick's Saltire would bridge religious divides.
On the first point, I contest that no nation should abandon its historic colours because a small group of people misuse it. Do the British haul down their flag because it is even used to adorn bikinis and boxer shorts? On that point, could we replace our flag with the saltire that forms part of the Union Jack?
Secondly, the Tricolour, as flown first by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848 and based on the French flag, embodies a great deal of our nation's heritage. Yes, many nationalist patriots fought and spilt blood under the Tricolour but our UN peacekeepers also serve under it. In the modern, multicultural Ireland, I strongly believe it would be discriminatory to introduce a national flag that relates specifically to one religion. It is not for one man to say all Irish people would be proud of such a standard. - Yours, etc.,
EOIN MARTIN,
Breffni Road,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.