D-Day anniversary – Irish absence from event regrettable

THE Government’s absence from yesterday’s ceremonies in northern France, commemorating the 60th anniversary of D-Day, was all the more regrettable in view of Ireland’s presidency of Europe.

Doubtless, this country’s neutrality in wartime will be cited as the reason for turning a blind eye to this epic event.

But times are changing. And with almost 20 heads of state from around the world attending the ceremonies, including for the first time a serving German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, it was a ready-made opportunity to acknowledge the 100,000 Irishmen and women from both sides of the Border who went to war against Nazi Germany.