Madam, - Thank you for publishing the wonderful 1845 photograph of Dublin's College Green ( Property, November 23rd). I was struck by the former beauty of what should be the city's central showpiece.
The absence of cars and clutter is noteworthy in a space now ruined by four lanes of (unrelenting) traffic, a taxi rank and and trees which hide the statues. I wonder how much support there might be for the restoration of what should be our great civic space?
The city authorities have worked wonders on O'Connell Street by reducing road space, removing median trees and planting others at the street edges and using high quality granite as paving (avoiding that cheap white Chinese granite they seemed to be hooked on for so long).
A similar approach to College Green would recreate Dublin's finest public space. Unlike O'Connell Street, the case for a total car ban on College Green is very strong.
Dublin's 18th-century prosperity resulted in great public buildings which (despite the traffic) adorn our capital city to this day. What will be said of our contribution to the public realm in this time of plenty? - Yours, etc,
COLM MAC EOCHAIDH, Dublin 8.