Madam, - When recently attempting to purchase gift vouchers for a friend from two of our nation's cultural institutions I met some forbidding obstacles.
The National Concert Hall's website will not allow me to purchase vouchers online. I may buy them in person - inconvenient, as I do not live in Dublin - or they can be sent by registered post to my credit card billing address where I must be there to sign for them.
Not a practical request, as I go out to work.
The Abbey Theatre similarly could not provide this service online, and failed to answer its box office telephone number.
The Gate Theatre got my business in the end, and I look forward to receiving its vouchers by post forthwith.
As a lover of the arts, and as an Irish citizen - and therefore a shareholder in Irish arts - could I suggest that this be rectified? We will soon lose to the competition. - Yours, etc.,
HELEN McLOUGHLIN, Sallins Road, Naas, Co Kildare.