Sir, - I read with interest Joseph Walsh's letter (April 29th) about the tons of litter that have collected along the banks of the River Dodder. I first moved to Dublin 20 years ago, and the banks of that river were in the same state then. Like Joseph Walsh, I am amazed that such a valuable public amenity should be left in such a deplorable state.
For sheer astonishment, though, Mr Walsh should have walked another mile or so along the course of the Dodder in the direction of Churchtown. There he would have found the delightful Dodder Linear Park, with its scenic walks, its bird sanctuary, and its famous landmark - the grand Ely Gate, which stands on the edge of the Dodder Park Road.
Indeed, South Dublin County Council thinks so much of this gate - the original entrance to Rathfarnham Castle - that it has landscaped all the ground immediately behind it, and bathed the building itself in floodlights each evening, so that passing citizens can admire its fine architecture.
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, however, which is responsible for the land immediately adjoining the rear of the Ely Gate - some 20 yards away - is about to install there an eight-bay halting site for travellers, which will not only abut the landscaped area surrounding the Ely Gate, but will also overlook both the River Dodder and the Dodder Linear Park.
I have no strong views on the general halting site issue, except for a faint puzzlement about the apparent desire of the travelling community to settle in built-up suburban areas, but I do wonder how anyone, anywhere, could decide that the land beside the Ely Gate was in any way an appropriate place to construct such a site.
I do not know of any other European capital city - many of which have their own indigenous itinerant populations - where a halting site would be purposely constructed within yards of such a beautiful public park, and right beside a landmark of such architectural and historical significance. Perhaps some of your readers may be able to throw light upon this apparently bizarre decision by Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council. - Yours, etc.,
Colin McClelland,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.