Sir, - The Phibsboro Silver Skate ice-rink (the Republic's only rink) is closing down due to an inability to get insurance for its public sessions. To some it may not have seemed to be a great venue. Yet every week it provided hours of pleasure for very many young people from Dublin and beyond.
Many may also be unaware of what went on every Saturday and Tuesday afternoon when the white lights were turned on. Then, the members of the IceSkating Club, all passionate about their sport, would arrive (some after up to an hour's journey) for the figure-skating sessions. With the help of their Belfast coach, they were able to practice their routines and prepare for national and international competitions and exhibition shows.
Sadly the insurance companies have put a sad end to all this. Now the only option left is a long journey to and from Belfast, just to skate for two to three hours. The Tuesday sessions, for which the coach will still travel from Belfast, will be reduced to off-ice fitness training sessions in a hall nearby.
The Republic of Ireland has become the only European nation not to have an ice-rink of any sort. The reason Ice-skating is a minority sport is not because we don't have any interest in this country, but because we simply do not have the facilities to support young upcoming ice-skaters. Who knows what talents are being wasted? Toronto has 30 Olympic ice-rinks in the one city. Can Dublin not even have one?
We very much hope that some solution will be found soon and that ice-skating in Ireland will be saved. - Yours, etc.,
Caroline O'Connell, Templemore Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin 6.