Madam, - In his latest letter on Trim's Wellington monument (August 7th), Thomas Dion Russell once again shows that he is in possession of a distinctly narrow-minded approach to Irish history and to what constitutes a "worthwhile" contribution to its formation.
Moreover, Mr Russell demonstrates that he remains in blissful oblivion of the history of Trim's monument, despite his earlier visit to the town.
If he had taken time, like any historian worth his or her salt, to research the background to the Wellington monument in Trim before pronouncing judgment on it, then he would be aware that the Wellington monument was funded and erected not by the British administration, but by the people of Trim and the surrounding areas.
Indeed, if Mr Russell had even bothered to read the inscription on the base of the column, he would be aware of this fact, for engraved there are the words: "This column was erected in 1817 in honour of the illustrious Duke of Wellington by the grateful contributions of the people of County Meath". Hardly the work of a populace who "would have taken their chances with Bonaparte", as Mr Russell believes.
As a fellow student of history who has also "read her books", and, moreover, a native of Meath. I would also like to inform Mr Russell that the aforementioned gratitude of the people of Trim was not just in response to Wellington's performance at Waterloo. The monument was also erected in recognition of his contribution to local politics, as he had begun his political career as a member of Trim Corporation from 1789 until 1793, and then served as MP for Trim from 1791 until 1797. Do eight years as a representative of the people of Trim and Co Meath not count as a valuable contribution to people and to the formation of the town's history?
Finally, I would like to respond to Mr Russell's comments that I and the others who have replied to his letter are trying to "airbrush" the Duke's "reactionary political philosophies". This is not the case, and it is time Mr Russell became aware that his belief that Wellington should be removed from the top of his monument is a far more flagrant attempt to "airbrush" the history of modern Ireland.
He may not fit into Mr Russell's view of what constitutes the ideal Irish historical figure, and he may not even have liked being Irish - but Irish Wellington was, and long may Trim's monument stand as a proud commemoration of this fact. - Yours, etc.,
LAURA O'BRIEN, Abbey Grove, Navan, Co Meath.