Make our island a top tourist spot

THE island of Ireland has not had a Taoiseach of courage since the late John A Costello declared the state a Republic, or a statesman since the late Éamon de Valera.

That is why several people in towns like Cashel and Cork now see themselves more as subjects of the Queen of England prior to her visit, rather than as citizens of the Republic of Ireland.

The new Taoiseach Enda Kenny is too short a time in office to make any judgement on his ability to restore pride to our deeply-in-fiscal-debt Republic, in the minds of the crucified taxpayers.