Letters to the Editor: Why is a library using the term ‘British Isles’?

Cork City Library on Grand Parade, Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

I was genuinely taken aback when I visited Cork City Library recently and saw a section prominently labelled “General History of the British Isles”. One might expect to encounter the term “British Isles” in an old book, where it reflects the terminology of the period in which the book was written. What I did not expect to see was an Irish public library in Cork actively choosing to use it on its own signage.

Ireland is an independent, sovereign republic. It has been so for generations. Yet apparently, according to the signage in Cork City Library, the island on which this country is situated is still to be categorised under the heading “British”. I am aware of the argument that “British Isles” is an established geographical term. That does not make its use compulsory, nor does it make it neutral. Language evolves, particularly when terminology carries a considerable historical and political baggage.

There is something particularly jarring about walking into a public library in Cork — a city with its own very substantial history of opposition to British rule — and being presented with a classification that effectively places Ireland under a British geographical label. And for what purpose? There are perfectly simple alternatives: “History of Britain and Ireland”, for example, conveys precisely what the section contains without casually attaching Ireland to a British identity. Nobody is suggesting that historical references to the “British Isles” should be erased from books, or that the term never existed. The question is much simpler: Why is an Irish public institution choosing to use it today when an entirely
uncontroversial alternative is readily available? Perhaps Cork City Library would explain who decided upon this terminology and why? In a country that rightly takes considerable pride in its independence and its own national identity, it seems extraordinary that we should still be expected to accept, without question, terminology which places Ireland under a British heading.

Steve Murray

Cobh, Cork

Solar panels are underutilised

While the €600 for solar battery storage that was recently announced by environment minister Darragh O Brien is to be welcomed — it still only restores the €600 grant that was abolished in 2022 by then minister Eamon Ryan. In addition, the core grant for solar panels was also reduced in January 2025 by €300 to €1,800, which is where it stands today.

The decision by the minister to bring forward the year of property ownership and occupation to 2025 is also a welcome measure to increase the number of properties eligible for grant aid. Yet the current first-day cost of installing a solar system requires substantially more than €1,800 of grant aid for the panels and inverter, which is less today than it was in 2021.

A survey commissioned by Solar Ireland in 2022 estimated that in Ireland there were over 1m residential houses with sufficient roof space to install an average of 10 solar panels, which is equivalent to a 3.4kw system. This would be sufficient to generate enough electricity to power 25% of all Irish households. The survey also estimated that a small 3.4kw system would reduce individual energy bills by an average of €450 per year for over a million households. Unfortunately, due to the high installation costs and poor grant aid, only about 10% of the 1m potential rooftops have solar systems installed. Given the ongoing energy crisis and the current cost of living, it’s impossible to understand why any government would ignore an opportunity to make it possible for a million households to become €450 better off each year.

To date, the average State aid spent by SEAI for residential solar installation amounts to €39.68m a year. Clearly, this is a pittance, given that in recent years the Government is collecting over €1bn annually in carbon tax, which should be ringfenced to reduce carbon emissions and promote the installation of renewable energy systems, including solar generation.

The actual grant aid for residential solar should be close to 40% of the actual cost (similar to Spain). This level of aid would attract thousands of homeowners who are part of middle-class Ireland to install solar systems on their houses, which would be a huge benefit to thousands of home owners and their families.

Diarmuid Cohalan

Ballinhassig Co Cork

Triple lock will not affect our neutrality

The ‘triple lock’ concept, despite some conflation of the positions, has nothing to do with traditional neutrality and everything to do with an unnecessary limitation on Ireland’s sovereignty.

The Defence (Amendment) Act 1960 yielded our nation’s ability to engage in overseas peacekeeping operations to permission granted by a non-elected, non statutory entity, the UN Security Council, whose permanent members (the P5) have not agreed on a peace-keeping mission for 15 years. This is unlikely to change.

In 2026, this 66-year-old anachronism should be jettisoned. Ireland is a mature, liberal democracy, capable of making decisions about its international profile as a contributor to peacekeeping without the interference of totalitarian or extreme nations of any ilk.

This will not affect our government’s policy of military neutrality. It will, however, permit Ireland to continue its proud tradition of assisting the maintenance of safety and peace for vulnerable people, as has been the case in Lebanon for 48 years. The benefits and experience gained there are irreplaceable!

Tim O’Connell Capt (ret’d)

Ballinteer, Dublin

Are we prepared for an emergency?

Most households should have received the BE EMERGENCY READY booklet by now.

Having read its 20 pages, it is arguably less than useless, and it may even be dangerous because it gives a false impression of the potential for very serious emergencies. It only refers to: “Events like storms, flooding, cyber-attacks and disruptions to critical supply chains”. There is no mention of possible terrorist attacks, or conventional military attacks due to our Government abandoning Irish neutrality, and its failure to promote international peace.

The risks of nuclear war, or nuclear accident, are ignored. There are 57 nuclear reactors in France, while Sellafield is too close for comfort. Radioactive fallout fell on Ireland after the Chornobyl disaster in 1986. Radiation knows no borders. There are over 12,000 nuclear weapons globally. In his address to the UN, US president Trump threatened to annihilate Iran, indicating the possible use of nuclear weapons. Russia threatened to use nuclear weapons if its Kaliningrad territory was attacked or blockaded.

Neutral Switzerland has 370,000 underground bunkers capable of providing shelter for all its 9m citizens. Our Irish Government makes no provision for such shelters for its ordinary citizens.

Two important factors need to be considered in planning for emergencies. What is the most serious possible emergency, and which emergencies are the most likely to occur? In this 21st century, humanity has too many irresponsible leaders. As a result, even the most serious possible emergency, such as a nuclear war, may be likely to occur. It is irresponsible of our Government not to plan for such emergencies and keep our citizens informed. It looks like our national planners were so afraid of another publicity debacle like the iodine tablets that they took the option of doing virtually nothing. Proper emergency planning is a deadly serious matter.

Edward Horgan

Castletroy, Limerick