Letter: Marching against civil rights

Sir: There is substantial respect paid to both the Unionist and nationalist traditions in Northern Ireland in the allocation of public holidays (letter, 8 July). Northern Ireland is the only place in the world where St Patrick is accorded a public holiday in his honour outside the Irish Republic, which is a recognition of the importance of the nationalist tradition. It is therefore only fair and proper that the majority community in Northern Ireland is accorded a similar recognition.

PETER WALLACE

London SE13