Madam, - I visited Dublin last week for the Ireland v Italy rugby international and stayed with my daughter in Blackrock. On Friday evening we walked through Blackrock village to find a restaurant. We passed a bus shelter, between the Temple House and Canada Life buildings, beneath which was a blanket of cigarette butts scattered on the ground (I would say thousands). It was disgusting. It was obvious that this is where nearby office staff gather for their cigarette breaks.
I then observed, all through the village, pockets of cigarette butts outside pubs, shops and restaurants. Is Blackrock village ever cleaned? This certainly changed my culchie image of the place. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE BULMAN, Monearmore, Youghal, Co Cork.