Ireland for the Irish

Such a large amount of foreigners is sure to have a significant negative effect on Irish workers, infrastructure (such as schools, healthcare, education, etc.) and even more so, Irish pride, culture, heritage, national identity, etc.

These people don’t care about Ireland, they’re just there to make money and abuse social services.

I am aware the Republic of Ireland had a citizenship referendum in 2004 in which birthright citizenship to anyone born in Ireland (regardless of the status of their parents) was discontinued. This has helped to stop boatloads of pregnant Nigerian women from showing up in Irish hospitals, having a baby and then being granted residency on the basis their child was an Irish citizen.

I hope that the Republic of Ireland significantly lowers the number of individuals being allowed to immigrate to Ireland, puts more restrictions on European Union workers, and gives those of the Irish Diaspora whose closest link to Ireland is a great-grandparent theright to Irish citizenship that they should be entitled to.

If the Republic of Ireland doesn’t take these steps, then I fear that the Republic of Ireland will no longer be Irish.

Eric Hafner

Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Time to Confess

AS I read John Gregg’s letters in the March 21-27 issue of the Irish Voice and in a previous issue, a name kept coming to mind: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He is the demonic president of Iran who is a denier of the most verifiable atrocity of the last century, the Jewish Holocaust. Psychologists name this condition of mind a pathology. In the vernacular it is called “having issues.”

In a similar way, Gregg is a denier of the big crime before the subsequent multiple crimes and hate conflicts resulting from it in Northern Ireland.

The big crime was committed by Queen Elizabeth I when she stripped the native Irish of their lands and properties in the north of Ireland and replaced them with English and Scottish settlers. We see a similar situation in the Sudan today.

While Mr. Gregg was not there at that time in history, he is an inheritor of the spirit of the crime. He leaves no doubt in his letters that he is a modern day protector and promoter of that demonic spirit.

As a practicing Catholic who participates fully in those nefarious practices outlined in Mr. Gregg’s letter such as Confession, reception of Holy Communion (Body and Blood of Jesus) and intercessionary prayer to Mary, I will not judge Mr. Gregg. Jesus forewarned, “Judge not, less you be judged.”

However, while I may not judge the sinner I am allowed to speak of the sin. Sigmund Freud attributed the fact that there is less psychosis among Catholics than non-Catholics to the Confession box. No disrespect to Freud, but Jesus beat him to the insight long before. There is no doubt that humans have a need of confession. Look at the billion dollar industry which has grown from lying on the psychiatrist couch.

Mr. Gregg would do himself no harm if he wandered into a Confession box and rid himself of the chains of hate and confusion that bind him.

Then and only then will he have the confidence and security to embrace his Irishness, join the human race and live happily ever after.

John Rogers

Voorhees, New Jersey

United We Fall

AFTER being at each other’s throats for the past 400 years, it is truly a time to rejoice to see hardcore Nationalist and Unionist leaders talk to each other as equals for the first time. The significance of this event for peace and stability on this island cannot be overstated.

My only fear is that we Nationalists might screw it all up by banging on about a united Ireland. We must now resist our primeval urge to recapture ancient tribal territory and concentrate all our energies on making friends with our Unionist neighbors.

Dick Keane

Dublin, Ireland

Reagan Not Great

I MUST take issue with the “Sidewalks” column by Tom Deignan, “Two Giants of Irish America.” (March 21-27).

Ronald Reagan was not a giant of Irish America. Reagan was Irish in name only. One only has to look at who delivered the (pre-recorded) eulogy at his funeral to realize he was no friend of the Irish.

Reagan sat back and watched as his friend Margaret Thatcher tortured and murdered Irish POWs. While the rest of the world looked on in horror at the events that transpired in Long Kesh 26 years ago, Reagan remained silent.

A little pressure from him on his “friend” Thatcher might have saved 10 lives. Irish blood dripped off his hands as surely as it does Thatcher’s.

Reagan was many things, but a “great Irish American” was not one of them.

Jim O’Donnell

Point Pleasant, New Jersey

Great Issue

THE March 28-April 3 issue of the Irish Voice is a must-keep collector’s edition!

There was so much the remarkable color cover photo of Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, the most varied and in-depth coverage of their deal, the economic implications, John Spain’s historical perspective, acknowledgement of the key Irish Americans who supported the effort over the years, and your “In Focus” on Sean Cahill, director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Congratulations to the Irish Voice for this issue, and for 20 years of leadership in the community.

Phil Ryan

Kingston, New York

Act to Save Tara

I AM writing regarding the urgent need to act quickly to inform the worldwide Irish community about what is happening on the Hill of Tara in Ireland.

The magnificent Hill of Tara, which was Ireland’s most important political and spiritual seat of power from prehistoric through early historic times, has been zoned for a double-tolled superhighway, shopping malls and housing developments in short, urban sprawl.

Construction sites are being put in place, ancient oaks and elm trees have been cut down! Rare archaeological sites have been removed from this ancient “mosaic of monuments.”

Since my visit there last year, for my brother’s funeral, I have been focused on finding an efficient way to inform as many people as possible. And, what could be more efficient than asking agents, promoters, venue managers, and arts practitioners in the liberal, performing and visual arts to take action by informing their networks and by presenting “awareness raising” and/or fundraising events under the banner of the Anam Cara for Tara “arts action” campaign over the next three months. Poster and flyer templates are free!

We must act now if we are to protect Tara. If we truly love our Irish heritage, how could we live with ourselves if we allow this travesty to go ahead?

The Irish government has a responsibility to future generations to protect this sensitive archaeological area. We call on the Irish government to review their decision to build the M3 freeway through the Hill of Tara/Skryne Valley.

There are other options available. These include improving the existing N3, re-opening the Navan-Dublin railway line or moving the M3 away from this delicate archaeological landscape.

Please sign the petition! Write letters! Donate to the Tara Watch and Save Tara campaigns!

All contact information is available on the website www.AnamCara Festival.org/

It is not too late to stop this. Many more people can lend volume to a united global chorus, so that all the people of Ireland will hear our voices from afar.

A recent official poll showed that 93% of Irish people do not want this freeway to go through these valleys. We need to encourage those people to demand that their politicians act on their behalf to save the Hill of Tara.

Mairead Sullivan

Melbourne, Australia