Sir, – Micheál Martin’s defence of UK prime minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office was a notable diplomatic moment, particularly because visiting leaders often appear reluctant to challenge or contradict the US president directly. In that context, his intervention stood out. Yet it received little or no attention on the BBC News at Ten or the BBC’s political programme Newsnight.
Moments such as these highlight how editorial choices shape public understanding. They also speak to the tone of relations between Ireland and the UK, where gestures of public support carry both symbolic and political weight.
They serve as a reminder that, despite often being portrayed as fractious neighbours, both countries frequently act in support of one another on the international stage. - Yours, etc,
DIARMUID O’CINNEIDE,
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Garryowen,
Limerick.
Sir, – You can only but congratulate Micheál Martin for his handling of a difficult diplomatic visit to the White House. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS MORRIS GORMALLY,
Rathangan,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Ireland rugby head coach Andy Farrell and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have given quiet masterclasses in leadership in recent days. Statesmanship, humility, decency, consideration and kindness. The kind of traits the world needs now more than ever.
In turbulent times, we are blessed to have two servant leaders as captains, steering their respective Irish ships in choppy waters. Saint Patrick would be proud of them. – Yours, etc,
JOHN HOGAN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, - “Churchill was a great wartime leader,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin to US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office on St Patrick’s Day. He should be cognisant that Churchill – no friend of Ireland’s, by the way – did object to appeasing Hitler’s bullying tactics and nazism.
On that same historical theme, our own wartime leader and the Taoiseach’s predecessor, Éamon de Valera, refused Churchill’s demands to use our ports during the second World War. Something our Government would do well to remember regarding Shannon Airport. – Yours, etc,
JIM WARD,
Salthill,
Galway.
Sir, – US president Donald Trump has said the current UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, is no Winston Churchill. It could also be said of Trump that he is definitely no Franklin D Roosevelt. – Yours, etc,
FINNIAN E MATHEWS,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – During his conversation with the US president, Micheál Martin said you cannot have a rogue state with a nuclear weapon or the capacity for nuclear weapons. I agree. So what are we going to do about Israel and the United States? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN HANNEY,
Shantalla,
Galway.
Sir, – When the Taoiseach made clear to Donald Trump that you cannot have a “rogue state” with nuclear weapons, I was, momentarily, deeply impressed he had the courage to confront the US president in such a direct manner. Alas, I was soon overcome with disappointment as I realised Micheál Martin was talking about Iran rather than the United States. – Yours, etc,
CON LYNCH,
Schull,
West Cork.
Sir, – It was very remiss of the Taoiseach, during his White House sojourn with the US president, not to correct and chide his host for his ignorant remarks suggesting the Irish president is a man. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
