Sir, The magnificent Bengal tigers love swimming. Strange that their rich Irish cousins do not encourage such pleasures in Co Dublin.
Half a century ago the suburbs enjoyed the benefits of having the Blackrock Baths, Dun Laoghaire Baths, Sandycove Baths and further out Bray Cove Baths, in addition to the natural bathing places. Today, in a booming economy the four baths are no longer functioning - three are desolate eyesores with the other, an ugly building in Sandycove, housing a sub-aqua club.
Surely with all the commercial and private investment money pouring into Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove, these valuable facilities could be reinstated with improvements to a high standard for swimming, diving and bathing.
Where are the voices of our public representatives? The Forty Foot is a classic example of how private enterprise (Sandycove Bathers' Association) has yearly maintained and improved a wonderful facility. Maybe the Irish tiger has grown too greedy and selfish to want others to swim with him. - Yours, etc.,
Shirley Cautley, Church Lane, Newcastle Upper, Co Wicklow.