Sir, - Proinsias Mac Aonghusa states that "Juan Vivion de Valera most certainly existed and was the father of Eamon de Valera according to all reliable accounts and available documents."
Only two documents have ever come to light which makes reference to this man, both associating him with Eamon de Valera's paternity. The first is Eamon de Valera's birth certificate, in which he is referred to as Vivion de Valero; the second is Eamon de Valera's baptismal certificate, in which he is referred to as Vivian De Valeros. Despite exhaustive research by competent researchers in the US, no independent documentary evidence of this man's existence has been found.
Mr Mac Aonghusa gives details of the marriage of Vivion de Valera and Catherine Coll. He is not quoting from the church register in which this marriage is alleged to have taken place. There is no entry for a de Valera-Coll marriage in the register of St Patrick's Church, Greenville, New Jersey. Mr Mac Aonghusa should reveal his sources of information or stop criticising people who are taking a legitimate interest in this matter. - Yours, etc., Tony McCarthy
Irish Roots Magazine, Belgrave Publications, Belgrave Avenue, Cork.