Republican criticism directed at charity over band’s appearance unfair

The planned appearance on October 5th of the Band of the Irish Guards at the K Club in Co Kildare at a charity event which is being organised by the Security and Emergency Services Ireland Forum (SESIF) has apparently raised the ire of some members of our Republican community.

Indeed it seems that the chosen beneficiary of the event, the Jack and Jill Foundation, has come in for some vitriolic criticism from certain quarters because of the involvement of the band.

Notwithstanding that there are those with deeply held political views, surely the targeting for protests on the internet and elsewhere of a children’s charity which has done so much for children with disabilities over many years cannot be right?

Ironically, it was only in the recent past that the British government loaned Ireland billions to help our debt burden, and not forgetting the many thousands that are employed in the UK who remit the queen’s shilling back to Ireland to help their families survive.

CEO Jonathan Irwin has travelled the world fundraising to keep the foundation afloat, and yet he is personally attacked for trying to keep their foundation viable.

Will our erstwhile protesters dip in to their own pockets and come up with the extra funds so that these children can access that special care that the foundation provides? The accusation that this event is a sickening public relations stunt, or that the Brits are asserting their empire by the back door, beggars belief.

We, the people, voted for a new arrangement with the UK over the six counties, and by agreement we have chosen peaceful co-existence with our nearest neighbour.

Surely, in this republic, the plight of the most vulnerable members of our society is a priority, and organisations involved with their care should be supported, no matter the politics?

Peter Mulvany

Clontarf

Dublin 3