Madam, - A week after the St Patrick's Festival in Dublin, what have we learned? The parade was entertaining and well supported. We had lots of visitors. The "Après Parade" was disgraceful.
On seeing the gangs of drunken teenagers take over Grafton Street and the surrounding areas, I predicted an outcry. I was right. We have had the outcry. However, we have little or no reaction from the authorities. Maybe they are reluctant to admit the existence of a problem in case it has an adverse effect on future tourist traffic. If this is the case, we are in the soup.
The first step in solving a problem is to accept it exists. I saw fear and concern on the faces of visitors in Grafton Street during that afternoon. The problem is out and is likely to filter back to the tour operators one way or the other.
Unless some action is taken by the authorities, I fear for the future of the festival in Dublin.
Maybe we should follow the example of our Ministers and Ministers of State and celebrate St Patrick's Day abroad? - Yours, etc.,
MAURICE BRACKEN, College Grove, Castleknock, Dublin 15.