Unity without trade-offs?

Sir, – Fintan O'Toole's thought-provoking article states that we in the Republic are not even prepared to make small concessions in the name of unity ("Believers in a united Ireland without trade-offs are as bad as Brexiteers", Opinion & Analysis, December 18th).

He mentions the flag and anthem as being among these minor items.

Surely we have been generous in allotting one-third of the Tricolour to the unionists who have a quarter of the population on the island. It is for them to accept that, not us to meddle with a banner that is the very essence of equality. The Tricolour has been debased by some over the years, but the same applies to the Ulster flags flaunted by their wild men. The anthem is past its sell-by date anyway, so let us look at something more representative of the modern Ireland we now occupy. – Yours, etc,

A JONES,

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Mullagh,

Cavan.