Sir, I found Dr John Regan's article on Lady Hazel Lavery and Kevin O'Higgins (September 11th) a little puzzling. For the greater part, it seemed to be a preview of Sinead McCoole's coming biography of Lady Lavery, but in the last few paragraphs it took on a different sort of agenda. We are told, in a very pompous tone. that "in our self perception of who we are as public and private people, Hazel's relationship with O'Higgins may seem bizarre, even grotesque", given O'Higgins' Catholicism and his position in the new State.
Well, would we really? Even a little historical knowledge of Kevin O'Higgins would indicate that he was a puritan and, as such, quite likely to be very attracted to a woman like Hazel Lavery. Not "bizarre" or "grotesque" at all; quite in the nature of things.
Dr Regan then goes on to give us a little homily. We should not be interested in these things in the last 10 years, he tells us, we have displayed a "prurient interest" in the lives of historical figures which reflects both a "historical distraction and immaturity which does not serve us well".
Now, "prurient" is a big word and I don't think that, on the whole, the Irish people are big into "prurience". But maybe it is just me. Maybe I am just too grown up" to tolerate this form of lecturing from what I am sure is a well meaning, but slightly sanctimonious, historian. - Yours, etc.,
Ballyloughnane,
Killaloe,
Co Clare.