Madam, - Tom Cooper finally reveals the real motive to his objection to Irishmen in British uniforms as being nothing more than anti-Britishness. In so doing he also touches on the real origins of the sacred cow of Irish neutrality.
How could De Valera have brought Ireland into the second World War on the side of the Allies when this would have meant fighting alongside the British? This simply would have been too bitter a pill for him to swallow. So we declared ourselves neutral, a meaningless gesture when we could not even defend it.
Our so-called neutrality meant we hid behind the apron strings of the Allies during that war, and of Nato in the subsequent Cold War. Being neutral, we turned our backs on the small nations of Europe that were crushed by Hitler. We turned our backs on those who had helped us in our fight for freedom - the US and France. Worst of all, we turned our backs on all those who were being murdered in the death factories of Nazi Germany.
I suggest to Mr Cooper that he visit one of these camps and then tells us how Irishmen who fought in other uniforms against this evil do not deserve to be honoured. I cherish and honour all those who have worn the uniform of our country but I equally cherish and honour those who have worn other uniforms to fight evil and oppression. Let us not forget those who fought in British uniform in the first World War, believing they were fighting for Irish freedom, who have been largely airbrushed out of Irish history. Perhaps Mr Cooper would also wish to forget those of the Wild Geese who fought in "foreign armies".
When people from both sides of the divide in Northern Ireland can meet and offer the hand of friendship while they honour the Irish dead of the world wars, I really think it is time for Mr Cooper to bury the hatchet and open his eyes to the new, inclusive Ireland that cherishes all traditions. - Yours, etc,
PAUL ADAMS,
Estuary Road,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.