Madam, - I was among those who shared the doubts and fears about allowing an Orange march in Dublin in 2000. Some of these doubts have been reawakened by the decision to invite the Orange Order to take part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Cork.
Different signals will be sent to different people. Those on the Garvaghy and Lower Ormeau Roads may see it as deserting them when they need support. Orangemen themselves will see it in the light of their own "logic", which is that they cannot freely parade in "their own country" but are actually invited to parade in the second city of "a foreign country".
But if we are ever to see a united Ireland it will be necessary to make some political compromises. Certain principles will have to be conceded. And one of these is that Irishmen of all colours should be given the right to march in any part of Ireland subject to the maintenance of public order. But how soon are we to see a nationalist or republican parade allowed to peacefully pass along Bóthar na Seanchille in Béal Feirste?
I believe it is now about 30 years since the late Brian Lenihan suggested that Orangemen be invited - or allowed - to march in the 26 Counties, but he wasn't the first to make that suggestion.
The Anglo-Celt of August 16th, 1974 carried a report of an invitation to Orangemen to march in Monaghan. The invitation was issued by the late Vincent Conlon of Sinn Féin, at a meeting of Monaghan Urban Council. The invitation was issued to Orangemen on both sides of the border.
I was down that road myself as far back as Saturday, July 12th, 1958. On that date I flew an Orange flag from the end of my house. I issued the following statement, part of which was carried by the press including the Sunday Independent and the then Sunday Review (Irish Times group). It was carried in total by An tÉireannach Aontaithe: "Many of my friends and neighbours were surprised when they saw a flag flying outside my home - an Orange flag - on July 12th.
"I am just as proud of the men who fought at the Boyne as is any Orangeman. Those men who fought there are Irishmen. It makes no conceivable difference whether they fought beneath the green flag or the orange flag. They were still Irishmen fighting for what they must have believed right.
"My attitude towards Orangemen and Orange walks is simple: nobody can deny an Orangeman's right to take part in a walk in whatever part of the country he chooses. Any genuine Republican admits that Orangemen have the right to hold their walks in any part of Ireland.
"Orangemen are Irishmen. They are part of Ireland. They are needed just as much as those who shelter behind the green flag. It is to be hoped that they will play a fuller part in the affairs of their country. Ireland (32 Counties) is their country too.
"Why shouldn't the Orange flag fly alongside the green? Or better still why not fly the Tricolour, which embodies both the green and the orange together with white for the peace and unity which is, or should be, between the two.
"It is time we all realised that we are Irish".
And that was almost 47 years ago, nearly half a century. - Is mise,
PÁDRAIG Ua CORBAIDH, Doire, Cill Na Seanrátha, Co An Chabháin.