Two-timing in Ireland

SIR: Mary Kenny (November issue) mentions that there was a movement in Ireland in 1916 to create Irish time (20 minutes later than GMT), which came to naught.

My understanding is slightly different. Ireland did have a separate time zone (25 minutes later than GMT), which caused minor confusion for travellers between the two islands. I have seen an old photo of a clock at Larne Harbour railway station which had two minute hands, permanently set 25 minutes apart, so that travellers could rely on Irish time or GMT, as they preferred.

According to The Northern Counties Railway by J R L Currie, all Irish railways went over to GMT in October 1916 to simplify timetabling. Elwyn Soutter, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland