Sir, - Francis Ledwidge has returned to Kosovo following a brief spell of leave in Ireland. I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance (at his request) at a party held recently in Terenure. He is very appreciative of the work undertaken by our society and has offered us his full support.
I found him to be a charming fellow with many of the mannerisms of his favous ancestor. There is also a strong family resemblance, for he is the grand nephew of the poet and soldier of the same name.
Frank, a native of Liverpool, was educated at Oxford and practised as a barrister before entering the British army. He informed me that he met his fiancee, an Albanian doctor, while in Kosovo as part of the NATO mission. Both he and his fiancee hope to be present at the launch of the society's forthcoming biography of the poet.
This Ledwidge family have certainly played their part on behalf of world peace: the poet was among three Irish Ledwidges killed in the first World War; the poet's nephew, Kevin Francis, was killed in the second World War and now Francis Ledwidge daily risks his life in a zone of land mines, unexploded shells, sniper fire and a range of infectious diseases.
Let us all wish him well and a safe return home. - Yours, etc., Liam O'Meara,
Chairman, Inchicore Ledwidge Society, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.