Sir, - As one of the Wexford folk who has been known to raise a glass or two during a rendition of Boolavogue, may I take issue with your correspondent Michael O'Farrell from Bray (August 13th) in his interpretation of the rights and wrongs of 1798. I have an added interest in that 50 per cent of my forbears were Protestant and 50 per cent Catholic.
Given the prosperity in County Wexford in the 1790s, with the increase in the export of agricultural produce to Britain due to expanding population there, I have often wondered why the rising was centred in Wexford, and I would love to see a scholarly debate on the subject in your letters columns. So far I have been disappointed.
My Christian Brother teachers in the 1940s told us that the objective was a united Irish republic. Surely not; there was more in common between Wexford and Wales (a few hours away by boat) than Ulster (a week or more away by land). Plus, the French concept of a republic may have been known to educated and travelled people such as Wolfe Tone, but hardly to the unsophisticated farmer in Boolavogue or Oulart.
I was one of those who carried pike and banner in the 1948 commemorations. Now, 50 years on, I am more inclined to the views of your columnist Kevin Myers and others who raise the questions. Also I would love to know if the story is true: How did they distinguish between rebels and British army in the tumult of Vinegar Hill? Answer - the rebels being Wexfordmen spoke English; the army, the infamous North Cork Militia, spoke Irish.
Oh it's all not as clear as it used to be, let's hear from your scholarly readership. - Yours, etc.,
W J Murphy, Malahide, Co Dublin.