Sir, - I found Professor Galvin's article on the establishment of this State very enlightening (The Irish Times, December 6th). However, may I express surprise at his portrayal of Ireland as "slowly emerging from serfdom and pre-literate culture". On the eve of the Famine, Ireland was by contemporary standards already an emerging modern state. We had an established national school system, the genesis of a health system and an extensive police and judiciary infrastructure.
In addition, by 1845 approximately 20 per cent of the population was classified as literate, and by the turn of the century this percentage had almost quadrupled.
Furthermore, the phenomenal success of the Gaelic League in the early decades of the 20th century shows how physical force nationalism was usurped by cultural expression in the decades after the fall of Parnell, and the resulting internecine warfare among Irish nationalists.
Before the establishment of the Free State Irish farmers, despite their caution, were increasingly buying their own land. Following the Wyndham Land Act (1903), approximately 60 per cent of farmers owned or were in the process of acquiring their own land.
Perhaps the fledgling Free State owes at least part of its success to the education system which allowed successive leadership cadres to be replaced by remarkable men and women, to the extent that despite the loss of Collins, Mellows, Pearse, Griffith and O'Higgins, firm democratic institutions were set down.
Finally the "slightly constitutional" party has yet again illustrated why it continues to be the most successful political organisation in this State. Funding of £20 million over three years for its members at play will copper-fasten the core vote for another general election outing. "The Lily Whites" shall forever be grateful to Mr McCreevy. Others should note this pragmatism. - Yours, etc.,
From Dave Costello
Thornbury View, Rochestown, Cork.