Memorial concert in a grown-up republic

HAVING attended the memorial concert at Cork’s City Hall last Saturday I went to express my gratitude for a wonderful evening. Played to a packed house, this proved to me how far we have come as a nation, and what a wonderful lord mayor Cork has in Cllr Brian Bermingham.

To those who would not honour the men who made such a sacrifice back then I would say there are few houses in Cork not affected by the First World War. The lord mayor took the brave step to honour them on this 90th anniversary.

This in a way was as monumental as Barack Obama’s victory in the US. I came away with the impression we were finally turning into a republic, having grown up as a nation, and I say to everyone involved with the concert — well done, and please let’s have more events like this in Cork.