Irish war dead being used cynically to attack Irish nationhood

THE former Fine Gael TD for Donegal North East, Paddy Harte OBE (Letters, February 8) appears to labour under the impression that Irishmen who fought for the British empire during the Great War have been ignored by the Irish state.

This is untrue. The fact that we give our primary allegiance to those who established the Irish state, not to those who tried to prevent it, does not constitute neglect of those Irish who went away and never returned.

For many years now Irish society in the South has been accused of failing to honour the memory of those who were slaughtered in the Great War. Can it be that Mr Harte is unaware that the Sunday nearest July 11 each year has been set aside to commemorate all Irish killed in all wars, including those who gave their lives on service with the UN. The President, Taoiseach, leaders of the opposition and religious leaders from all the main churches are invited to attend. This is truly a national commemoration to honour those Irish who died, with formidable respect and dignity but without the pomp and pageant of the British imperial military ethos so much associated with the British Legion version of Remembrance Sunday.