Madam, - In your Weekend Review of January 6th Frank McDonald reiterates George Redmond's proposal of some years ago that St Anne's Park in Raheny, Dublin should be used for house-building. He quotes economist Colm McCarthy as saying that the park is sparsely used and that women in particular are afraid to walk there. This is not so.
For the past three-and-a-half years I have been walking in the park three times a week throughout the year. I have seen young women walking alone; older women power-walking in trainers; single women with prams and toddlers in tow; young girls taking other young wheelchair-bound people for walks; whole classes of schoolgirls on nature walks, or having lunch on the grass; and grandparents and young women supervising toddlers in the playground. Does this indicate non-usage by women?
I do not play football, tennis, golf or bowls, but I am very glad that facilities are there for those who do, and it is a particular joy to see young boys and their dads racing radio-controlled vehicles around the little circuit provided for them.
The rose garden and its hugely successful annual festival is internationally recognised, and I have seen visitors from as far away as Japan taking photographs there.
Along with the main rose garden, there is a delightful miniature rose garden, which includes two ponds with water-lilies and reeds, and pergolas which are festooned in breathtakingly beautiful blossom in spring and early summer. Off this is a herbaceous garden of great beauty which is surrounded by a stunning yew hedge, at one end of which is the clock tower covered in Virginia creeper.
Then there is the nursery where all the plants for flower beds and hanging baskets throughout the city are cultivated by an extraordinarily dedicated staff who work extremely hard in all weathers to maintain this truly beautiful park.
Dublin City Council is to be congratulated on converting the Red Stables into artists' studios. The excellent Rose Cafe and the Saturday Market add to the enjoyment of the area.
Herons, egrets, migratory geese and countless other birds inhabit the park, and do not understand that "green acres can no longer be taken for granted anywhere in the capital". This is an outrageous contention as any city needs as much green space as possible to counteract the effects of pollution. This especially applies in this area where air-traffic pollution is considerable, and is set to increase by at least 50 per cent in the coming years.
St Anne's is more than the sum of its parts and future generations will thank us for keeping it intact. - Yours, etc,
(Mrs) JOAN LITSTER, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.