Sir, – Paul O’Neill (October 31st) is making the unfortunate mistake of confusing geography and law.
Undoubtedly, all 32 counties compose the island of Ireland as a matter of geography.
However,when it comes to statehood, matters are well-defined. Article 4 of our Constitution clearly states that the name of our state is Ireland. The constitutional aspiration to a unified Ireland in Article 3 also acknowledges the different jurisdictions north and south.
Regarding our status as a republic; this is a description of the kind of democracy that we are and not part of the State’s name.
Mr O’Neill undoubtedly lives on the island of Ireland but he resides in the state of Northern Ireland, which is of course part of the UK. – Yours, etc,
COLM KELLY,
Christ’s College, Cambridge,
England.