Sir, - I would like to point out to Dr Connell and others that Mrs McAleese is my President as well as his.
Many years ago a member of the Church of Ireland, Alderman Maurice Dockrell, as Lord Mayor of Dublin, welcomed the Apostolic Delegate, Cardinal Agaganian, to the Mansion House, kneeling before him and kissing his ring. That shocked many Protestants but it was clearly right.
Also many years ago, when that wise woman and devout Roman Catholic, Alderman Catherine Byrne, was Lord Mayor, she and I arrived early for a board meeting of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where she was about to take the chair and I was an ordinary governor. I forget how the topic arose in our conversation, but I can never forget her words:
"The Lord Mayor of Dublin has every religion and none. The day before yesterday I attended Mass in the Pro-Cathedral, sitting in the Lord Mayor's chair, for the beginning of the law term. After that I participated in the Church of Ireland St Michan's church for the same purpose.
"Last night the Lord Mayor was a Presbyterian at Findlater's Church. Tonight the Lord Mayor will be Jewish when she opens something at the Maccabi sports grounds in Terenure. I am the Lord Mayor of all the citizens of Dublin. Where Catherine Byrne goes on Sunday is entirely may own business."
Would Dr Connell and others please accept that President McAleese is President of all the citizens of the Republic of Ireland? And where Mary McAleese goes on Sunday mornings is her own business. - Yours, etc.,
From Charles Acton
Carrickmines Station, Dublin 18.