Madam, - The switching on of the floodlights in Croke Park last Saturday night was a fantastic occasion. The stadium looks even more spectacular at night than it does in the daytime. The involvement of children from so many countries in an exhibition game was an inspired decision and was an eloquent statement about how the GAA sees its future. And the Dublin Gospel Choir sang Amhrán na bhFiann with passion and grace.
Congratulations to all involved. I am so proud of the fact that we will be welcoming our English and French rugby visitors to the stadium over the next few weeks. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'LEARY, Wilfield Park, Dublin 4.
A Chara, - How ironic that in the week when we finally have had to accept that we are killing the planet with our over-use of energy, the main cause for celebration should be the playing of a football match under a megawatt blaze of floodlights, following a beautiful sunny spring afternoon.
The challenges of the years ahead in saving the planet will indeed be painful. - Is mise,
TED NEVILLE, Carrigaline Road, Douglas, Co Cork.
Madam, - Now that Croke Park has been redeveloped, (at quite some expense to the taxpayer) and the GAA has agreed that some soccer and rugby international matches be played there, (albeit temporarily while Lansdowne Road is unavailable, and at some expense to the FAI and IRFU), is it not time that more investment was put into lesser-played sports?
I am referring to games played throughout the country, such as basketball, which is half-way through a four-year development plan, and tennis, which is being kept alive outside traditional strongholds by the dedicated efforts of the parks tennis coaching programme. - Yours, etc,
PAT O'CONNELL, Hamilton Street, Dublin 8.