I had the same experience as Patrick Fitzpatrick (Letters, January 22) when I tried to locate Béal na mBláth last summer.

DURING these hard times when, after a decade of splurging by the Bertie Gang, we’re now expected to trim our wallets and expectations, all in the noble cause of patriotism, it might be timely to remind ourselves of Samuel Johnson’s adage regarding the calibre of those who take refuge in this notion.

ON a recent visit to west Cork I set out to visit Béal ná mBláth where the patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins lost his life in an ambush in 1922.

SO the Government’s pigeons have all come home to roost and the coop, it seems, is in disarray.

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley’s announcement that he intends to seek Unesco world heritage site status for the Burren and Clonmacnoise, while no doubt laudable, contrasts starkly with his Pontius Pilate act regarding that other unique environment — the Hill of Tara — ever since he entered government.

NEGOTIATIONS in the current round of national partnership talks should be plain sailing for a change — particularly in the case of the trade unions’ wage expectations.

EMBATTLED Health Minister Mary Harney is a clever, articulate woman with an enviable political career stretching back to the 1970s.

IN his letter (October 11), David Marlborough attacks John Gormley personally for everything that he seems to think is wrong in government, including the M3/Tara route, Shell in Mayo, Shannon rendition flights, incinerators and exploitation of natural resources.

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER John Gormley's stance, which he’s continually adopted since entering Government, is that he can do little regarding the Tara/M3 disgrace, as all the damage was done before he came on board, his hands are now tied by existing decisions, ministerial orders and legislation, and he's powerless to act.

GREEN Party leader John Gormley maintains “the reaction of the people to the Greens in Government has been very positive” and that his party has “displayed leadership and courage” and got themselves a good deal when going into Government.

IT’S often been said that the mark of a successful society is to be found in how well it treats its most vulnerable members.

IT’S interesting to observe the behaviour and reactions of the various parties concerned with the ongoing Aer Lingus/Shannon debacle.

IN its defence of the controversial redevelopment of Greystones harbour, Wicklow County Council trotted out the usual clichéd hyperbole about “world class” facilities and a “rejuvenated” facility.

IN the light of the hullabaloo surrounding Tara and M3, perhaps it’s perhaps timely to examine some of Taoiseach’s remarks in the past regarding the whole issue of heritage in this country.

IN relation to the ongoing M3/Hill of Tara debacle, perhaps it’s now high time to have the disreputable Government responsible for all of this ‘preserved by record?’

HAVING occasion to visit Cork for a family wedding, I decided to undertake my own small version of a grand tour during the few days I had and was, once again, overwhelmed by the rich cultural heritage we are lucky to possess in this country.

THE news of the discovery of a site of major archaeological importance in the Tara-Skryne Valley is exciting.

IN the run-up to the general election it’s perhaps timely to consider the appalling lack of respect for our heritage which has been continually displayed by the Government, in particular since 2002 when Martin Cullen and his successor Dick Roche held the Environment portfolio.