Sir, - I was glad to note that at the Blue Flag award ceremony Therese Madden of the Consumers' Association was able to register a well justified protest at a Blue Flag being given to Salthill Beach (Galway), despite the fact that there is frequently a "pong" at that beach.
Donabate (Fingal) was one of the Blue Flag recipients. The sea at Donabate is splendid, but the beach cannot really be considered well managed, because of the crowds of cars which are parked on it. On any good summer day, even a weekday, lines of cars come down on to the beach itself and constitute a perpetual hazard to small children.
The concrete terraces, steps and promenade at Seapoint, a recipient in Dun LaoghaireRathdown, are well kept in the swimming season, but the area is bedevilled by illiterate dogs, which simply cannot read the various notices asking their owners, for reasons of hygiene, not to bring them there. Dog mess on grass or a sandy beach is bad enough, but on a paved sea approach it is utterly disgusting.
The Cut (Lough Lene, Co Westmeath) is a lovely swimming place, but I saw a horse being galloped in the water there one summer evening last year. I hope this was an isolated occurrence. - Yours, etc.,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.