Madam, - Toby Joyce (March 30th) is keen to stress the "proud tradition" and "reputation" of the "Fighting Irish" in the service of the American army. Presumably, such sentiments also apply to British military formations with traditional Irish connections. And, of course, the Wild Geese of Europe come to mind as well.
Yet a crucial distinction merits mention. The foregoing forces generally supported the strong - indeed, on occasion, in making unjust war. By contrast, in other contingencies - the San Patricios in Mexico, those who served the liberator Bolivar in South America, the volunteers in the International Brigades in Spain - idealistic Irish fighters freely joined in the legitimate defence of popular sovereignty. The cause counts. - Yours, etc,
JA BARNWELL, St Patrick's Road, Dublin 9.