Madam, – The Irish taught the English how to read and write. The Irish language was written down 200 years before a word of English appears in the historical record. In a time before a great calamity befell Ireland, scholars travelled from all over the continent to an island regarded by everyone, including the English, as the intellectual centre of Europe.
Ireland also has the oldest codified law system in Europe and some of our cities were founded by the Vikings not the British.
The surname English is not of English origin but one given to ancestors signifying their position in society as foreigners. Although, they were beaten back to the home island many years ago, they are still licking their wounds and snarling at all the nations that defeated them.
As a descendant of King Charlemagne and one whose ancestors came to Ireland with a Frenchman by the name of Henry II of England, I can assure you that the Normans were not British either. Furthermore, 70 per cent of the words in common usage in the language called modern English are French in origin. It appears there is a lot hidden under the carpet, in the household, of the current Duke of Normandy (Queen Elizabeth II). – Is mise,
Madam, – I feel a debt of gratitude to JDW English (June 14th) regarding the possibility of a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland. As a past inhabitant of north Galway, I was often stuck in horrendous traffic in and out of the town of Claregalway and found myself wondering what total idiot was responsible for the roads in this county. Question answered.
Many thanks Mr English. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – JDW English (June 14th) makes extraordinary claims about the benefits to the victim country of invasion and subjugation. If this claim is true, why did the English resist the Spanish, French and Germans to the extent they did and reject all these wonderful benefits? – Yours etc,
Madam, – I enjoyed the “What did the Romans ever do for us?” inference in JDW English’s letter (June 14th). In like spirit, I wish to point out that it was 7th-century Irish monks who taught the English to read and write, and despite the global consequences I – like the queen – will not apologise for that. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Your correspondents seem to agree that Queen Elizabeth founded the first Irish university, for better or worse. But what is a university? Clonmacnoise? Yours, etc,