Sir, - I refer to the letter from Nuala Hayes and Ellen Cranitch (April 8th) about their visit here on St Patrick's night. The Music Centre is a purpose-built venue allowing live performance and video/audio recordings. There is theatre-type seating which retracts into the wall. The height required for TV lighting and the retractable seating account for the "barn" like appearance. Some people love it, some people don't.The Music Centre's programming covers many genres. We offer the same stage to experienced and emerging artists. The common denominator is our respect for musicians and our desire to put on a good show. This differentiates the Music Centre from establishments whose sole purpose is the sale of drink.Consequently, we are fortunate enough to have superb acts such as Cooney and Begley playing here regularly. Our bar's purpose is to subsidise the staging of shows for emerging talent which otherwise would not have a platform of such quality.We are sorry Nuala and Ellen did not enjoy the evening because they were admitted late and the crowd were noisy. Unfortunately, the artists were still sound-checking at opening time. Rather than keep patrons outside in the cold, we admitted them to the foyer and bar. Regarding the noisy crowd, we still have not found a way of controlling how much enthusiasm a full house on St Patrick's night exudes.This is very definitely a "music" centre with rehearsal facilities for bands, a training school for sound technicians and a decent performance space where music and performers can be respected, celebrated and enjoyed - with equal emphasis on all three. - Yours, etc., Paddy Dunning.Managing Director,Temple Bar Music Centre,Curved Street,Dublin 2.