THE visit to the Republic and her reception by a guard of honour of the Defence Force reminds me of the action of Colonel Michael Corcoran, Officer Commanding the 69th Infantry Regiment, New York State Volunteers, who refused to parade the regiment in honour of the visit of the Prince of Wales to the city.

THE murder of unarmed civilians manning a ship bringing relief to the citizens of Gaza by members of the misnamed Israeli defence forces should be condemned by all people who have a sense of justice and fair play.

READING the hoopla about Ronan O’Gara’s stance before the British queen reminds me that when I was a boy, every second home international was played in Belfast following a rendition of the British anthem.