A chara, - Our former President, in a parting message, referred to the uncertainty surrounding the concept of a distinctive Irish national identity, and suggested as a subject for debate whether or not the Republic should seek to join the British Commonwealth.The massive domination of Ireland by England, which the Irish people themselves did so much to ratify and copper-fasten when they decided to discard the Irish language in favour of English, and which has since been further reinforced by the impact of the mass media, has frustrated the attempt (and even the desire) of the Republic to pursue a genuinely independent course. Consequently, the whole of Ireland has become what many outside observers perceive it to be - a British province, or, in the prophetic words of a Gaelic poet of four centuries ago, "Sacsa nua darb ainm Eire" - "a new England called Ireland".Most Irish people seem reasonably happy with this state of affairs, subject only to two reservations; one, the denial of equality of status to Catholics in Northern Ireland; and two, an illogical feeling of repugnance at the label "British".The way would therefore seem to be open to exploring the pros and cons of Commonwealth membership, and even, if Britain agreed, of reincorporation into the United Kingdom. A decision by the Government and people of the Republic to seriously tackle the restoration of Irish (to which they are on paper committed) would, I believe, be no barrier to such steps, and might even facilitate them. - Is mise,From Tomas O GormainBaile an Teampaill, Baile Atha Cliath 14.