Letter from John A. Costello to Éamon de Valera (Dublin)

Dear Mr. de Valera,
As you know, it is intended that the coming into operation of the Republic of Ireland Act, on Easter Monday the 18th instant, should be marked by fitting national celebrations. The arrangements include a series of broadcasts, each of about five minutes' duration, occupying in all, the half-hour from 9.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The series will include addresses by the President, myself and the Minister for External Affairs, in that order.

My colleagues in the Government join me in suggesting that you might deliver one of these addresses, and I should be very glad if you could see your way to do this. The proposal is that you should speak immediately after the Minister for External Affairs.

Deputy R.[oderick] Connolly,¹ as the son of one of the executed leaders of 1916, and Mr. James McSparran, M.P.,² as a representative of nationalist opinion in the Six Counties, will also broadcast in the series. It is proposed that their addresses should follow yours.