July 12 not the day for an all-Island holiday — but 'Reconciliation Sunday' should be considered

When Green TD Patrick Costello called for the Irish Government to make July 12 a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, he did not anticipate the furore it would cause

Former Fine Gael MEP and former leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, John Cushnahan

When Green TD Patrick Costello called for the Irish Government to make July 12 a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland (as it is in Northern Ireland), he did not anticipate the furore that it would cause.

I believe that Mr Costello is a decent person, and naively thought that his idea would be a gesture of reconciliation towards the unionist tradition.