Sir, - Having been enticed into Dublin by the promise of a fireworks spectacle, I, my children, my neighbour and her children arranged to journey to Dublin early on Saturday afternoon. Heeding the prevailing advice, we left our cars at home and went by train. We were informed, when buying the required tickets, that the last train from Dublin to Drogheda would be leaving Dublin at 8.30 p.m. as the usual later train was cancelled! But we were assured that we could use the return train ticket on a bus back to Drogheda! When we arrived in Dublin we had the foresight to check this information at Busaras; it turned out to be a little-known fact - known only to the inspector and not the "information" desk or ticket office! To cut a long story short, and not to dwell on the filth of the facilities at the bus station, we returned from Dublin on a hastily arranged bus at 9 p.m. The bus was overcrowded and many of us had to stand for most of the hour-and-a-half journey.
It was difficult to spoil the fantastic experience which was the fireworks display, but the lack of planning on the part of both the bus and rail "providers" came near to succeeding. The phrase, "they could not organise a piss-up in a brewery", was aptly intoned my many we met in the bus station.
Needless to say we will not be venturing to Dublin for any more of the St Patrick's Festival events. - Yours, etc.,
Geraldine Jennings, Drogheda, Co Louth.