Letters: Catherine Connolly’s inaugural speech as Irish president was obnoxious and even anti-constitutional

I counted 10 very obnoxious – and in some cases also anti-constitutional – elements in the 14 minute inauguration address in Dublin Castle on Tuesday from Ireland’s President Connolly.

1. The “horrors of war” were mentioned

But not a word about the sad necessity for – and moral basis of – armed self-defence. For example when attacked by an aggressor – as with Ukraine rightly resisting the invasion by Putin.

2. One hundred and sixty five million people displaced in the world today was mentioned.

But again not a whisper about any aggressor who had caused such forced movement.A far cry indeed – and on Remembrance Day, November 11 (which she briefly mentioned) – from the words of the Slane Poet, District Councillor and County Meath Farm Labourers Trade Union Sec, and L/Cpl 16,139 Francis Ledwidge in 1 Battalion, Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers, that he would not stay at home and pass resolutions when faced with “an enemy common to our civilisation”. He was killed by a German Shell in Flanders

3. Irish history reduced to ‘Colonisation’

In fact we had a hefty 54.4% more MPs in the UK Parliament – 105 – than the 9.68% or 68 MPs which our 4.39 million population warranted in 1918 among the then 707 UK MPs – no real colony ever had any MPs there.

And ‘resistance’ – as if our predominant story was not of massive – and successful – successive mass mobilisations (Catholic Emancipation, Land League, GAA, Gaelic League, Trade Unions and also Nationalist MPs in the Irish Party) along with those MPs’ robust use of Parliament in Westminster – not only – or even mainly a story of gunmen.

4. Ireland - due to this history – has a “mandate to lead”

In fact, we are, a), far from unique – much less the ‘Most Oppressed People Ever’ – and, b), are also only one of 27 EU states and, c) only one of 193 States in United Nations – a daft echo of the arrogant, smug and toxic doctrine of ‘American Exceptionalism’.

5. She referred to a visit to ‘the North’ – not to Northern Ireland

6. ‘Tir gan Teanga, tir gan anam’ – is not about a bi-lingual island but about Gaelic supremacy and exclusivity

And our Anam/Soul flourishes in Bearla – both collectively and individually, just as in sport – and music, and literature – we flourish in many different styles of both. Her attitude is ‘Back to the Bans’ – and with some, indeed most, Irish people being regarded as Second Class Irish.

7 Her music selection was also, revealingly, very narrow

In no way reflecting the diverse musical tastes, and musical products, of all our people.

8. She is not ‘a catalyst for change’

That is not role of any Irish president, which is clearly defined in the 1937 constitution, that is close to a declaration of war on the exclusive powers and role of our government and our Dail.

9. Her praise of ‘critical thinking’ – particularly from her supporters and during her election campaign

But completely ignoring the vital, indeed greater, need for self-critical thinking. And on all sides. And “a republic worthy of the name”, implies at least implicit – if not also explicit – support for the Sinn Fein-led GULAG which elected her (Grievance-driven, United Left Alternative Government).

10 That media got no advance copies of her text is also very disturbing

But it is also a sinister echo of how her Sinn Fein handlers treated the media during her campaign – even manhandling one journalist who had dared to ask questions.

Tom Carew, Ranelagh, Dublin