Sir, - I read with incredulity Eibhir Mulqueen's report (March 15th)on the University of Limerick's extraordinary proposal, now before anBord Pleanála, to extend its hegemony by building a concrete bridgeacross the Shannon at Plassey and colonising the beautiful greenpastures of the Clare bank with yet another development of glass andcement.
This stretch of the mighty Shannon is one of our finest river-walksand should surely be left in peace for the salmon, otter anddragon-fly. To collar the largest river in these islands with anenormous bridge at this delightful pastoral scene and begin theinevitable destruction of the other side is to ignore completely thetimeless beauty of the location and is tantamount to landscapevandalism.
As a resident of Limerick city, I am amazed that UL has notendeavoured to extend its campus in or close to the city-centreaccompanied by an interconnecting quality transport corridor. Both cityand university would benefit from such a bridgehead, the city from muchneeded economic and social vibrance and UL by eschewing the role ofacademic island intent on swallowing up its fine riparian hinterland. -Yours, etc.,
DESMOND FAGAN,
Steamboat Quay,
Limerick.