Madam, - Our Constitution states that anyone born in Ireland is an Irish citizen. Should we not be proud of an Irish citizen who was a Nobel prize winner, an Oscar winner and an honorary freeman of Dublin and who was also generous to Ireland in a very practical way?
His name is hardly known to Dubliners. I am referring to George Bernard Shaw.
The house in which he was born, No. 33 Synge Street, was restored and has been open to the public since 1991. It attracts visitors from all around the globe, many of whom are awe-struck by being in the room where such a world-renowned man was born. Yet the number of Irish visitors per year could be counted on one hand.
"The fact that I am an Irishman has always filled me with a wild and inextinquishable pride", GBS wrote. Where is our pride in this august Irishman? - Yours, etc.,
MARY LOU NORTON,
Foxrock Manor,
Dublin 18.