Sir — The no-holes-barred interview given by Pat Butler to Jerry O’Sullivan of Radio Kerry before the showing of the RTÉ drama-documentary Ballyseedy at Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, on a recent Friday left no one in any doubt there is unfinished business hanging over the Ballyseedy massacre of the 1922-23 Civil War.
On the night of March 6, 1923, nine republican prisoners were forcibly taken to Ballyseedy Cross by Free State soldiers. There they were bound hand and foot and roped together in ring formation around a log, under which landmines had been set.
The landmines were then detonated, killing eight of the prisoners. One prisoner, Stephen Fuller, was hurled across the road by the force of the explosion and amazingly survived to tell the world the true story of what happened at Ballyseedy.
The inquiry into the Ballyseedy massacre by the Free State government was a complete whitewash, as you might have expected seeing as it was chaired by Major-General Paddy Daly, who many believe had ordered the killings.
The inquiry report blamed republican soldiers for planting the explosives and claimed that those killed were accidentally blown up by their own landmines. The report totally exonerated the Free State soldiers and was read into the Dáil records by the Free State Army’s commander-in-chief and minister for defence, Richard Mulcahy.
Yes, it was 100 years ago, but the Government of today needs to put the record straight about what really happened at Ballyseedy.
Pat Butler’s forensic research and Stephen Fuller’s factual account of the event provide indisputable evidence that the Dáil records of Ballyseedy are pure fiction.
The martyrs of that infamous night and sole survivor Stephen Fuller and their families are entitled to have the true facts replace the fiction that is still in the Dáil records.
The people of Kerry want justice to be done in a spirit of reconciliation, forgiveness and closure.
On the centenary of the Ballyseedy massacre, it’s time to put the record straight.
Billy Ryle, Spa, Tralee, Co Kerry
SocDems will need more than just Holly Cairns
Sir — Jody Corcoran’s article last week on the SocDems misses the point as to why the party exists at all.
After this country had to be bailed out in 2010, the government elected in 2011 had a big job to rescue the country. It involved huge cost to the people. But the country seems to have recovered.
The best comparison of how well Ireland did is with Greece —which had a bailout at the same time. In 2010, Ireland’s deficit was a spectacular 30pc of GDP. The Greek figure was 10pc in the same year. Ireland recovered. Greece still has problems.
The relevance of this to the SocDems is that they pulled out of the government that was dealing with the problems caused by the collapse.
The SocDems advocated what the Greeks were advocating —and blamed the government for the electoral pain that was caused by the bailout.
This electoral pain is what did so much damage to the Labour Party — who the Social Democrats are now eclipsing.
Holly Cairns must not forget all politics are local
Sir — When I read Jody Corcoran’s article about the Social Democrats leadership change, the phrase that stuck with me was “a risky move worth taking”.
It can be difficult to pick the right successor for a leadership vacancy —different candidates bring different talents — which brings me to the question: is Holly Cairns the right person to lead the Social Democrats?
In our electoral system, there is rarely such a thing as a safe seat. Your own Shane Ross won more first preferences than any other candidate in 2016 — but then lost his seat in 2020.
In that same general election, Holly Cairns secured 4,969 first preferences, and was elected on the last count with transfers from Sinn Féin. Her constituency of Cork South West had previously always returned two Fine Gael TDs and one Fianna Fáil TD.
If I were the Fine Gael director of elections, I’d be asking serious questions about how FG ended up with no seat in this constituency — it’s the home area of Michael Collins and tradition means a lot in Irish politics.
I admire Ms Cairns for her political bravery and her ambition — but I also think she will face very tough opposition in Cork South West from Fine Gael, and from the Sinn Féiners who transferred so generously to her in the last general election. And if a leader fails to get elected, they’re finished.
Jody believes the SocDems and Labour will eventually merge, though only after the next election. He may be correct — but what are the possibilities of both parties being leaderless on the night the votes are being counted?
Tom Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Will women finally dominate politics?
Sir — “I think she is absolutely fabulous,” was how Gary Gannon described his colleague Holly Cairns of the SocDems, following the announcement that Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall would be stepping down as co-leaders of the party.
Regrettably, your columnists Brendan O’Connor and Jody Corcoran trotted out well-worn tropes in their respective contributions last week on Ireland’s youngest political party and what a new leader might mean.
It’s not too hard now to envision women dominating politics after the next general election. Led by Mary Lou McDonald and ably backed up by Holly Cairns and Ivana Bacik, and possibly Catherine Martin of the Greens (if Eamon Ryan calls it a day), it would make for a welcome change from the old boys’ club of the last 100 years.
Remember, too, that Holly Cairns came into politics officially by just a single vote in the 2019 Bantry-West Cork local elections.
And for what it’s worth, I also think the 33-year-old from Turk Head peninsula will make an absolutely fabulous leader.
Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry
Always choose a vet who knows your pet
Sir — In the article in the personal finance section of last week’s Sunday Independent (‘How to combat petflation’), a large image of myself and my dog Kiko was used beside the headline. A sub-heading on the article recommended “shopping around for the cheapest vet fees”.
In case of any confusion that may have arisen, as a veterinarian, this is not something I would personally recommend. Like does not equal like: pet owners often do not know what they are getting when they shop around.
There is huge value in working closely with the vet who knows your pet, and knows you, too.
Seeking the lowest price for one or two specific items is unlikely to make financial sense when looking at this bigger picture.
Pete Wedderburn, Bray, Co Wicklow
Ins and outs of protest chants
Sir — Watching the anti-immigration protests that are becoming so prevalent these days, I heard the marchers chanting: “Leo, Leo, Leo. Out, Out, Out.” I wasn’t aware that Leo Varadkar caused the immigrants to arrive in Ireland. Would “Putin, Putin, Putin. Out, Out, Out” not be more appropriate?
Pat Burke Walsh, Gorey, Co Wexford
Dáil shows unity in voting for a pay rise
Sir — I was amazed last week how united Dáil Éireann was when it came to the TDs’ latest wage increase. Their basic salaries are €107,376 plus expenses.
Why were the left and Independents not protesting this?
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get such unanimous agreements when it comes to national issues?
Brian Lube, Co Meath
Who will speak for school parents now?
Sir — Four weeks ago, Stephen O’Hara, through your letters page, expressed concerns about Minister Norma Foley’s plans for Leaving Certificate examinations in Irish and English at the end of fifth year. The following week you published our association’s endorsement of those concerns.
Last week, the minister heeded these pleas of teachers, students and parents in respect of dropping her plans for next September’s fifth years. She is to be congratulated for listening and taking the necessary actions.
It is imperative the minister engage with all stakeholders on her plans for wider Leaving Cert reform.
In this context, her recent announcement that National Parents Council Post Primary is no longer the recognised parent body in stakeholder engagements makes it all the more important that she find new ways to engage with the voices of Irish secondary-school parents.
Alan Whelan, Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association
Euro no good on Aer Lingus flight
Sir — On a recent flight with Aer Lingus, I ordered a coffee and a sandwich. They surprised me by saying they would not take cash in payment, but would only accept credit or debit cards.
As the euro is our legal tender, are they not obliged to accept it? Would any of your readers know what the position is in law?
Noel Skinner, Santry, Dublin 9
Atheist chaplain had faced discrimination
Sir — Last week, the Work-place Relations Commission found that an atheist applicant to be a chaplain in the Defence Forces was discriminated against on religion grounds.
Was the commission speaking ex cathedra in this judgment, or can it be appealed?
Cmdt Frank Russell (ret), Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
We’re ‘all anti-war’, so why are we fighting?
Sir — When asked on RTÉ radio if the Government’s decision to send Defence Forces personnel to train Ukrainian soldiers was a breach of Irish neutrality, Tánaiste Micheál Martin denied this was the case and stated: “We are all anti-war.”
Martin was a senior minister in successive governments, including in 1999, 2001 and 2003, when Irish governments allowed the US military to use Shannon Airport and Irish air space during the US-Nato wars against Serbia, Afghanistan and Iraq. All of these wars were in breach of the UN Charter and Irish neutrality.
Ireland was elected to the UN Security Council in 2021 for a two-year period, based substantially on its record as a neutral state actively promoting international peace and justice, yet failed to live up to its responsibilities to promote peace in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Not only is the Government actively supporting wars and reducing our traditional commitment to genuine UN peacekeeping, but it has also allowed the strength of the Irish Defence Forces to fall below 8,000 personnel and denied them the necessary resources to provide adequate working conditions and essential equipment.
The Irish people have strongly supported the peace process within Ireland, and the Government should likewise be supporting international peace.
Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Co Limerick
Listen to James Last playing ‘Nature Boy’
Sir — Declan Lynch kind of inferred in his radio column that James Last was crap (his word).
I wonder did he ever hear his version of Nature Boy featuring Chuck Findley on trumpet, or countless other great arrangements of numbers?
Pat McNamara, Co Clare
Michael O’Leary is dead right about those drones
Sir — Michael O’Leary was interviewed on RTÉ radio on Friday about the problem of drones at Dublin Airport and the inconvenience caused to 500 passengers who were diverted to Belfast and Shannon, as well as the 20,000 passengers whose flights were disrupted.
Straight-talking O’Leary was adamant that Dublin Airport Authority should proceed with the use of a drone disruption system that would take down the nuisance drones. His interviewer argued for the need for legislation and proferred that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan would be bringing a memo to the Dáil next Tuesday.
No-nonsense O’Leary was taking no prisoners. He urged the DAA to do it now, to bring in the legislation in six months’ time and let the drone owners try to sue the DAA. Problem solved.
It would be great if we had politicians like O’Leary who didn’t give a flying fig about popularity and vote-catching and just got on with the job in hand.
Any chance he would fly a political flag?
Sinéad Tracey, Leitrim Village, Co Leitrim
Girls and boys have to be classmates
Sir — I read Julia Molony’s excellent article in last week’s paper (‘Schools key to fostering good gender relations’) a few times. This particular subject is very personal to me.
I spent most of my school life in an all-boys boarding school, and many of my struggles in life were solely due to living within this single-sex school environment for so many years.
It’s very damaging to separate children by gender. Boys and girls should all learn together. As Julia says: “Learning to interact with the opposite sex has to happen in person.”
Brian McDevitt, Glenties, Co Donegal
Refs deserve respect in all of our sports
Sir — Dermot Crowe wrote last week about the abuse referees get at matches. I was a soccer referee for nearly 40 years and know all about it. Abuse is abuse in any sport, and I admire how refs get respect in rugby.
In my opinion, some players and mentors bring problems from their homes to the pitches and the ref must take the brunt of their anger.
It should be remembered all any ref wants is 22 players starting (in soccer, at any rate) a good game and finishing with the same number of players.
Only a few weeks ago, the Dublin refs cancelled all the games one weekend over abuse — and fair play to them.
In Germany, a crowd assessor watches how the people on the sidelines are behaving towards the referee and gives points for bad behaviour. The club receives a warning when a certain level is reached and is suspended if that level is reached again.
Remember, no refs means no matches.
Finbar Bevan, Farranree, Cork
Voiceless denied the right to a peaceful life
Sir — A letter by Jared Martin Gottlieb (January 29) stated that “Israel needs to be a state, but so too does Palestine”. What a wonderful, peaceful, forward- looking man.
Most of the trouble in this world is caused by stubborn, incompetent, greedy leaders trying to capture land that is not theirs and thus denying people the right to live a peaceful life.
Dialogue is not in their vocabulary.
As with everything in this life, it is always the ones without a voice who lose out.
