Conflict in Ulster

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 16

Conflict in Ulster

Sir,—Your correspondent, 'M. Creel (January 25), has failed to understand that Mr West’s contribution was two separate articles; one about Ulster and one about the Irish in Britain. M. Creel is wrong in quoting a sentence from one to criticise the other. Ireland is a sovereign, independent republic and has been so since 1948; prior to which it was a member of the Commonwealth. The first invaders of Ireland were the Normans who made a valuable contribution to Irish culture and were absorbed into and' became part of Irish tradition. The English who came later certainly tried to suppress the Irish, but the main group responsible for the revival in Irish language and culture was largely made up of Anglo-Irish or West British literati: indeed the first president, Douglas Hyde, was one of those. As someone who has recently arrived in this country from Ireland, it is obvious to me that West’s articles are factually correct and well written, and that M. Creel does not really know what he or she is talking about — Yours, etc,. C NICHOLAS CLARKE.I January 26, 1984.