Sir, – I am puzzled by Diarmaid Ferriter's opinion-page article ("How do you prefer our Fenian dead – revered or reviled?", August 15th).
On the one hand he seems to berate Minister Heather Humphreys and the Government for not supplying a narrative or commentary for each of the official commemorations of the Easter Rising currently in progress.
On the other, he argues eloquently that these commemorations should give rise to a fresh exploration of all the nuances and complexities of the Rising’s history, and to a better understanding of these events.
If there are historic contradictions and difficulties to be discussed in this process, does it behove the government or any minister to prescribe an analysis in advance?
Surely it is the task of historians to inform us about O’Donovan Rossa, Thomas Kent, Patrick Pearse, James Connolly et al, not this Government, whose duty is limited to providing a suitable context.
It appears to me the Government is now doing just that, with commendable care, enabling historians to have their field day.
The Irish Times is also to be congratulated for providing so much space to this exploration of our history and what it may signify today. – Yours, etc,
JOHN STEPHENSON
Secretary, 1916 Mendicity
Garrison Relatives,
6 Bessborough Hall,
Dublin 6.