Sir, – In reference to Una Mullally’s opinion article (May 12th) she puts forward the question as to “why is it that adults in Ireland are not trusted to have a beer in a park and behave themselves?”:
The answer is blowing in the wind; paper, beer packaging, nappies on my local beach following any hot summer day.
One of the smallest and delicate beaches in north Dublin, Burrow Beach, is systematically destroyed by adults on “heatwave” weekends with literally tonnes of rubbish having to be collected by council officials – 10 tonnes after a particularly bad example a couple of years ago.
This includes bottles and cans of all beer types and wine vintages. The council has added 22 bins in the area but still needs clean-up crews starting as early as 5.30am. For beach users, for wildlife, for the biodiversity of the area, for the wellness of our seas, this is not good.
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We don’t have a local park, might be a blessing. – Yours, etc,
CONN REDMOND,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – Una Mullally wonders what’s so bad about people having few drinks in parks or on streets.
She points out that in many countries this is permitted and poses no problems.
The reality, however, regarding public drinking in Ireland is unfortunately all too evident when it takes place.
Public drinking is generally accompanied by public disorder, public drunkenness, public urination and all the rest.
All Una needs to do is it take a walk during and after public drinking and see and sense the evidence for herself.
This evidence remains for the locals to savour long after the drinkers have gone home.
What is needed is less drinking, not more. – Yours, etc,
HUGH PIERCE,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – It beggars belief who makes the decisions in Dublin City Council regarding outdoor seating permits.
Are the council attempting to drain the life and soul out of any young person enjoying the third space that Drury Street provides?
Is it the council’s aim to drain the city of any joyful places that happen to be outdoors?
On one of the first sunny Friday evenings of the year, a family member enjoyed an outdoor drink at The Barge along with many others. Four Garda cars arrived and moved everyone along. I have never seen four Garda cars where they are actually needed.
Please leave our young people with something. They have already given up on finding somewhere to live at a reasonable price, let them have some craic please. – Yours, etc,
MICHELLE ROLSTON,
Whitehall,
Dublin 9.
