When the Troubles flared up in Ireland in1969 the Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, turned to his advisor, T K Whitaker for good counsel. Whitaker was on holiday in Connemara and was summoned to a phone. He spoke reassuringly to Lynch and followed up that phone call with a letter warning against the danger of appearing to support extremists on either side.
“There is a terrible temptation to be opportunist – to cash in on political emotionalism – at a time like this but it should never be forgotten that a genuinely united Ireland must be based on a free union of those living in Ireland.’
I hope the people of Ireland can grow into such a union.
Brian Fahy
12 April 2023
Erris Poetry 