Madam, - I'm not too sure which establishments W.J. Murphy (July 29th) frequents while in Nice, but he should open his eyes and smell the coffee.
It is possible for a couple to stay in Nice, in the city centre, for €50 a night in a decent one-star hotel: that's €25 per person in case Mr Murphy's maths aren't the best. And one can then find a good, three-course evening meal for less than €20 per person.
This pricing system operates for 10 months of the year outside the high season. Where in Ireland can you find the equivalent? Nowhere.
Until Fáilte Ireland address this problem the future is bleak: the negative tourism figures published in your newspaper last week only illustrate this. People arrive in Dublin, are shocked by the prices, and don't venture any further for fear of the unknown. That's the reality. - Yours, etc.,
RONAN GALLAGHER, Inchicore, Dublin 8.