Sir, - Robert O'Byrne's piece on the Tidy Towns competition (The Irish Times, September 11th) reminded me of a phrase I like to believe my grandmother coined: "clean dirt". This referred to a person or place that was somewhat untidy on the surface but spotlessly clean beneath.
I recently flew into Dublin from Spain and was horrified at the untidy, dirty surroundings that greeted me in the old and new terminal buildings in Dublin airport. This was followed by a taxi journey that I can only describe as an assault on my nasal passage and suede skirt which I hope never will be repeated. I finally wandered around several "un-twee" city streets in search of a bar or restaurant where it would be safe to enjoy an afternoon sojourn outdoors without succumbing to an aerial assault of grit, paper, cigarette butts and plenty more! This was in start contrast to what I had just left behind: 36 degrees in the shade; local authority people sweeping streets, disinfecting pavements, trimming trees, unsticking chewing gum, etc.
Yes, we all have responsibility for this national embarrassment. However I've yet to meet or see a litter warden and more often than not I encounter full litter bins in parks and streets throughout the country.
If we could get to a "clean dirt" starting point, perhaps we should then reconsider a genuine Tidy Towns competition. - Yours, etc.,
Clodagh Hannon, Killiney, Co Dublin.