Sir, - I take issue with the headline and content of your correspondent Fintan O'Toole's column ("Tammany Hall is real spiritual home of Fianna Fail, July 2nd).
The headline was completely erroneous and denigrates the spirit of public service and endeavour which is the hallmark of the thousands of party members, members of our Parliamentary Party, and our first time and re-elected councillors. Such a headline and the subsequent comments are offensive to the thousands of people who supported our candidates in the recent local and European elections - and made clear their support by giving our members 37 more seats than the previous local elections, reversing a trend for parties in government and giving Fianna Fail our best results since 1967.
I might add that our spiritual home is one built on honour and public service.
Fianna Fail members march proudly to Bodenstown each year to commemorate Wolfe Tone, the founder of modern Republicanism. Our presence there is not empty rhetoric, but an acknowledgement that we as Fianna Fail, the Republican Party, are rooted in the ideal of equality and justice, central to Tone's vision of Ireland.
We consolidate this in a more modern context at Arbour Hill each Easter, where those whom we commemorate were motivated by the same ideals as Wolfe Tone. - Is mise,
Dr Rory O'Hanlon TD., Chairman, Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party, Leinster House, Dublin 2.