Sir, - The Irish of the fifth century provided a haven to some of those fleeing the turmoil at the end of the Western Roman Empire. Some classical information came with these visitors, texts and learning, evidently.
As the peoples who displaced the Romans began to establish territorial entities, pilgrims from Ireland came to the mainland. They brought a persuasion of good in their beliefs, knowledge of classical texts, writing abilities which helped transmit oral traditions into literature and the means to write legal and constitutional documents. The Irish contributed monastic settlements, focuses of stability in parts of the Continent beginning to emerge as entities, which developed into present-day European states. These pilgrims made a contribution with others to the establishment of the Europe we recognise as home.
At a time of change and consolidation in our era, it is a good thing to recall how essentially the Irish people are woven into the psyche of historical and present-day Europe.
Those pilgrims were not borne on waves of invasion or domination. They were persuaders for goodness and were accepted as such. Through these earlier representatives, we established a human bridgework and a spiritual connection to Europe.
The Irish have been part of the building of Europe, it is our inheritance. - Yours, etc. Tom Ryan,
O'Malley Park, Limerick.