A chara, – I am puzzled by all of this talk of the men and women of the 1916 Rising not having a democratic mandate. Since when do those planning a rebellion conduct a public vote in advance? It is not as if the government they were rebelling against would sanction such a thing. And if the rebels, for some reason, did seek permission to hold such a vote, it would rather eliminate the element of surprise, which is usually an important part of the beginning of any rebellion. – Is mise,
Rev PATRICK G BURKE,
Castlecomer,
Co Kilkenny.
Sir, – It is not even the end of January and I’m already fed up with and embarrassed by the hawking of 1916. There are art exhibitions, book launches, TV series, plays and countless trinkets for sale in souvenir shops. Who will dare speak of 1916 by December? – Yours etc,
PAUL MacCORMAIC,
Kilbarrack,
Dublin 5.