A Chara, – It was interesting to read in Brian Maye’s An Irishman’s Diary (July 4th) that the opening of the National Gallery of Ireland in 1864 received widespread praise from all, with the notable exception of the Irish architectural establishment of the day. According to the article, they felt slighted because “its members had been overlooked in favour of an outsider” – Antrim-born Francis Fowke. One particular criticism highlighted was “the intensely ugly, awkward and dangerous staircase leading to the picture galleries”. Even as an inner city child in the 1950s, I could see that the staircases were beautiful; however, they were certainly dangerous and awkward then and, over the several decades I have been climbing them since, have not improved in that respect. – Is mise,
DR VINCENT KENNY,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.