Let history rest and welcome the queen

IT seems Seamus Kearney (Letters, June 25) objects to Queen Elizabeth’s visit on the extraordinary grounds that it would coincide with the 150th anniversary of a visit paid here by Queen Victoria in 1861.

Perhaps Mr Kearney would be more satisfied with a year such as 2016 which would not be the anniversary of any such significant event?

Regarding the relative Great Famine donations of Victoria and the Ottoman sultan, the British monarch could donate only what her government allowed and the sultan’s offer was refused by the government of the day — not by Victoria.