Well done to the people of West Cork on O’Donovan Rossa events

Now that the state ceremony in Glasnevin is over, may I use your columns to say a ludicrously brief, but intensely sincere, thank you to everyone who participated in whatever form in the Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa centenary commemoration in West Cork over the last number of weeks – and most especially to those who have helped organise the various events (all of whom I hope to thank in person over the coming weeks).

We are too close to the commemoration to judge its overall success or failure, or its longer term impact, locally and nationally, but what we can say with certainty is that it feels like a success, and that, not for the first and hopefully not the last time, west Cork has led the country on a project of national significance. Simply – thank you!

I also wish to thank the Irish Examiner for the unfailing support given by the paper for the programme - in publicising events in advance, and in reporting on them after the fact. Again, thank you!