Battlefield sites

In response to the efforts of campaigners (Irish Examiner, May 22), the recent assertion by Minister Jimmy Deenihan that it was not clear how the National Memorial site in Moore Street could be developed as a battlefield site is disingenuous.

It is a common practice in other countries to commemorate critical events in their history and it makes absolutely no sense to prevaricate about the issue of Moore Street and its preservation as a historical battlefield site within the context of a cultural quarter. A recent German TV crew arrived in Dublin to do a piece on our campaign and the first place pointed out was the history attached to the GPO which he filmed. We were asked how we preserve our memorial sites in general, and mentioned the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Sq, the Irish National War Memorial in Islandbridge and the GPO as formidable examples and historical reminders of the sacrifices paid by Irishmen and women. We have a duty to preserve the mosaic of experiences that is the history of this State for future generations and development of historic battlefield sites support that.

Peter Mulvany