I struggle to write a letter about the Easter Rising of 1916, because I am overawed when I consider the profound sacrifice those visionaries made, in offering up their very lives for Irish freedom.

I was privileged to attend the Ireland v France Six Nations test match on February 14.

The news that Ireland rugby players — Felix Jones, Dave Foley, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne — have committed their futures to Irish clubs by signing contract extensions six months ahead of schedule (Irish Examiner, December 3) is a credit to the new contractual renegotiations implemented by the Irish Rugby Football Union (who are the central contracting body).

It is utterly disgraceful that the Government so happily agreed to yet another sweet deal with the public-sector trade unions, in order to take advantage of the hard-pressed Irish taxpayer.