TREATMENT OF PROT ESTA.NT FARMERS IN SOUTHERN IRELAND.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—I fear the letter in the Spectator of May 10th, with the above title from "A Protestant Farmer" is liable to convey an impression which I think is entirely erroneous, viz., that Protestants in the South of Ireland are ill-treated because of their religion. Possibly it may be so in the neighbourhood where your correspondent resides, but that it is universally the case facts do not verify.
In the West at least, and I have been told it is the same in the South, far more Roman Catholic than Protestant houses have been raided. It is not a question of religion at all, but if a man is suspected of having money in his house (and the fairs are watched by these-robbers) he is likely to be visited by these miscreants. I know of a Roman Catholic gentleman- farmer living not far from this who was raided seven times, and his motor-car taken, and a lady, an enthusiastic Catholic Shin Feiner, who was raided at least twice. In fact, in this province of Connacht the name is legion of the Roman Catholics (including doctors) who have had their cars stolen and their cattle dispersed, or have been raided for money and valuables, not to speak of the many who have been killed or wounded for the sake of plunder.
Religious animosity is absolutely unknown in the West of Ireland, and from all accounts there is very little of it in the South, and that in spite of the fact that a few newspapers like the Irish Independent do their utmost to promote it. I am a Northerner, but has lived in the West for thirty-five years, and, although a Protestant, have during that time experienced more kindness from my Roman Catholic neighbours than I
have from my co-religionists.—I am, Sir, &c., J. C. T. Co. Gakvay.
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