Madam, - You must all be proud of your all-round performance last Saturday for: impeccable manners as hosts, brilliant rugby on the field, a radiant show of goodwill to all by your President and an all-round aura of bonhomie (my wife is French!)
Last August we visited Ireland for the first time in 30 years when we stayed with friends near Schull. We were so struck by your young people: optimistic, entrepreneurial, enthusiastic and polite. They made it a hugely enjoyable holiday for us and we returned very impressed with the spirit of the new Ireland. - Yours, etc,
ROBIN and SYLVIE MILLS,
Little Barrington,
Oxfordshire,
England.
*****
Madam, - I can't pretend to know in any detail about the English-Irish conflict in the early part of the last century, but I did witness at first-hand the IRA pub bombings in Birmingham and know the hatred I felt at the time for all Irish people. It was a feeling I struggled to understand as I had grown up knowing the warmth and friendship of Irish acquaintances.
Saturday's opening ceremony at Croke Park had the potential and all the excuses necessary to open up old wounds. Instead we saw the most dignified welcome imaginable and no words could ever express as much as the silence at the playing of God Save the Queen and the subsequent applause.
There may well have been more significant moments that sport and its followers have played in politics, but the reaction of that crowd should be written into history. I truly hope that, in future, a sporting rivalry will be the only one between our countries. - Yours, etc,
J GRIFFIN,
Solihull,
England.
*****
Madam, - I never thought I'd say this but the moment in my life I felt proudest to be Irish was last Saturday while God Save the Queen was being played at Croke Park. The respect the anthem was shown made me realise that this really is a special country. - Yours, etc,
RONAN MURPHY,
Cork.
*****
Madam, - Last Saturday's game in Croke Park offered a timely perspective on the administration of amateur and professional sport in Ireland. Rugby football, a relatively new entrant to professionalism, has shown world-class management.
Gaelic games, organised on an amateur basis, have provided a stadium worthy to showcase the best of Irish sporting talent. By contrast, the governing authorities of the long-standing professional game of association football can provide neither. - Yours, etc,
DESMOND GIBNEY,
Santry,
Dublin 9.
*****
Madam, - Much of the credit for the successful outcome of Saturday's historic match with all of its sensitive issues and possibilities must go in personal terms to the president of the GAA. His statesman-like stance and calming words provided positive leadership and was most effective in defusing a potentially embarrassing situation. He has earned our utmost admiration and appreciation.
Nicky Brennan has played a blinder once again. - Yours, etc,
PHILIP R FLOOD,
Marlay View,
Dublin 16.
*****
Madam, - As a Scot I had the privilege to watch the Ireland-England match at Croke Park on Saturday. As a Scottish Nationalist I have no love for God Save the Queen, but on watching the dignified behaviour of your magnificent fans as the anthem of England was played in such a citadel of Irish nationalism, it was plain to see what a mature and confident nation Ireland has become.
Sadly, we Scots are a hundred years behind. - Yours, etc,
ROBERT FERGUSON GIBSON,
Blanefield,
Stirlingshire,
Scotland.
*****
Madam, - As one of the residents of the Croke Park area, I experienced more than just the tidal wave of emotion on Saturday. Many rugby supporters chose to live down to their reputation by relieving themselves in the streets and lanes around my home - which prompts me to contribute to the current debate on the national anthems. Perhaps the appropriate dirge to represent the Irish rugby fraternity should be "Urination Once Again"? - Yours, etc,
COLM STEPHENS,
St Patrick's Terrace,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 3.
*****
Madam, - I wish to express my admiration for the way in which the English national anthem was respected at Croke Park on Saturday. The Irish nation can justly be proud of the example they gave to the whole association football world on how to respect and receive your opponent's anthem. - Yours, etc,
H ALMOND,
Rochdale,
England.
*****
Madam, - Among the much-evoked rattling of rusty rifles and musty medals on the terraces, surely there must have been one or two old ghosts smiling appreciatively at the novelty of hearing Amhrán na bhFiannsung and listened to respectfully to the very end rather than drowned out from "sa bhearna bhaoil" onwards.
And there must also have been a few who shared Nicky Brennan's evident and justified pride at what has been achieved in Croke Park and within the GAA in general, where recent developments show that where there is courage and real leadership, people will respond in kind.
Well done, Nicky Brennan and like-minded members of the Gaelic Athletic Association. - Yours, etc,
PADDY McGOVERN,
Old Leighlin,
Co Carlow.
*****
Madam, - Long live the true Ireland the world saw on Saturday. From an Englishman who was at Croke Park, congratulations for being an example to the world on how to behave with dignity, respect, goodwill and honour. Magnificent. - Yours, etc,
PHILIP GOLDACRE,
Sheerness, Kent,
England.
*****
Madam, - Why did the President choose not to wear any green at such a historic match? Was the imperial purple appropriate? - Yours, etc,
DAVID BAIRD,
Carraholly, Westport,
Co Mayo.
*****
Madam, - Half a lifetime ago, on February 10th, 1973, as I stood on the terraces of Lansdowne Road when the English XV ran on to the pitch, I thought I would never experience anything like it again. I was wrong. I did and it was magic! - Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE O'SULLIVAN,
Vernon Street,
Dublin 8.
*****
Madam, - Now that the sky has not fallen in, having heard God Save the Queensung in Croke Park, may we just move on? - Yours, etc,
JEROME KELLEHER,
Glanmire,
Cork.
*****
Madam, - It is quite extraordinary to think that the GAA, an association for so long linked with division on this island, has in fact, by opening up Croke Park to other codes of sport, united the whole island in a profound way. Is it too much of a leap to say that "Croker" has the feel of a national stadium? - Is mise,
LIAM MURPHY,
Garrawadreen,
Claremorris,
Co Mayo.
*****
Madam, - Considering the inspired performance by the Irish team on Saturday, should we play God Save the Queenbefore all our games? - Yours, etc,
FINIAN McCLUSKEY,
Carrickmacross,
Co Monaghan.