Sir, - From the letter of Mr David Young, I note that restoration work on St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny is being carried out with the help of a State subvention. Travelling round the country in recent times, I have noticed a number of restoration projects on Protestant church buildings being carried out by FAS, for example of the Anglican church in Uachtar Ard.
Personally, I have no objection at all to this. However, I do suspect that if similar work were to be carried out at state expense on a Roman Catholic edifice, there would be uproar about it on grounds of separation of Church and State" and the like.
Referring to St. Canice's, I find it a matter for regret that in the present century, this fine old building has been adapted to give it the aspect of a military shrine. If the cathedral is undergoing restoration, then this might be the right time to remove this particular overlay, Yours, etc.,
Boithrin Fada,
Gaillimh.