Sir, - Last week you published two letters drawing attention to the problems of small boat-owners in Dun Laoghaire harbour, expected to pay unlimited auction-competitive prices for simple amenities available since the 19th century at reasonable rates. I am happy to add my name to those of Messrs Caden and Magennis in support of the traditional small boat-owners of Dun Laoghaire.
I must say that some weeks ago I got a very polite letter from the chief executive of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, following publication by you of a letter on the same subject. This seemed to imply that a resolution of the dispute on terms fair to all was at hand. Evidently pressure has been put upon the harbour company by Marina Marketing and Management Ltd., and traditional amenities in a harbour that was built by public demand for public use and enjoyment are to be sold in the interest of greed.
I happen to have been in Cobh last week and saw how admirably in general the magnificent natural amenities of the Lee Estuary are managed in the public interest. In particular I was impressed how all day and every day from 9 a.m. passenger pleasure craft were cruising around the estuary showing its natural beauty and areas of historic interest to locals and tourists alike. If Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company wanted to show that it has interest in anything other than adding to the comfort and income of people with more than a normal share, it could better itself and relight any imagination or enthusiasm its members ever had to restore to Dublin Bay an amenity the Lee Estuary has and Dublin Bay had when its waters were looked on as public property and not as a playground for a minority. - Yours, etc.,
John de Courcy Ireland, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.