Sir, – Jennifer O'Connell's observations about Dublin having a lot of growing up to do are true, sadly ("Dublin is a city lacking in maturity", Life, May 14th).
The squalor in public places is not due just to official neglect. The attitude and behaviour of citizens are as important.
There are bright spots, though. Volunteers cleaning the Grand Canal in Dublin on the first Saturday morning every month throughout the year enhance that wonderful amenity. And on Tuesday evening this week, the Dodder Sea Scouts (average age about 12, it seemed) were hard at work fishing out litter from the canal, under adult supervision, giving an example to all passing by. – Yours, etc,
RODERICK BOURKE,
Upper Leeson St,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Further to “Traffic easing to transform Dublin” (Environment, May 13th), it is not just the bronze rails of Dublin’s Millennium Bridge that are scarred by graffiti. Most of our capital’s streets are suffering from meaningless “tags” daubed on walls, poles, etc, which must be off-putting for tourists. Surely a dedicated graffiti removal unit funded by Dublin City Council and Dublin tourism groups could help tackle the crisis? Perhaps dedicated walls throughout the city would help attract the best of the artists’ work. – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH RYAN,
Upper Churchtown Road,
Dublin 14.