Sir, - In recent weeks the Taoiseach has been on the receiving end of much criticism on account of his decision to proceed with Stadium Ireland. Many have warned him that he is heading into a political and financial quagmire that will ruin us all. Even more alarming is the claim that our leader is embarking on this crusade because he suffers from delusions of grandeur.
I know Bertie has taken a lot of knocking on this issue, but he might take some comfort form the fact that history is dotted with examples of leaders scandalously squandering public funds on monuments to perpetuate their patron's memory.
How irresponsible was the Chinese emperor who came up with the idea of the Great Wall? How many peasants' cabins could have been built with all that "wasted" stone? Furthermore, it discriminated against Mongolian refugees, whom it was designed to keep out. As for the Pyramids of Egypt, words fail me. How those proud Pharaohs threw all financial orthodoxy to the winds! They ought to have been called before a tribunal. I'm sure many brown papyrus envelopes changed hands.
When I visit Rome and look upon the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, those ancient Roman leaders who wasted hard-earned taxpayers' money on those "Caesar Bowls" leave me breathless. These monstrosities must also have caused dangerous overcrowding and traffic chaos in the narrow roads around the Forum. They didn't even develop Quality Chariot Corridors to ease the congestion.
More than a thousand years later the Romans were repeating their acts of recklessness, Pope Julius II can never be forgiven for misdirecting the funds of Peter's Peace to paint chapels and build unsightly domes. A more responsible pontiff would have used his taxpayer's money to pay Michelangelo to repair the Roman footpaths and re-cobble the potholed streets of the Eternal City!
Even our own island has down the years not escaped feckless follies and wanton waste. Building Newgrange was financial treason at a time when the country did not have a decent road system. I believe the vellum in the Book of Kells used up the skin of 120 calves - and this at a time when Celtic children went shoeless. I tell you, the Catholic Church in this country has a lot to answer for!
Remember Jim Mitchell warning the late Canon Horan not to "waste" public moneys on a "foggy, boggy" airport at Knock? Yet that turbulent priest chose to ignore the sage advice. So, Taoiseach, please do not fall into the same trap as the Caesars, the Pharoahs and the Popes. Listen to your critics "in the national interest". Ban the Bowl now or we will all be ruined. - Yours, etc.,
Father Iggy O'Donovan, Good Counsel College, New Ross, Co Wexford.