Sir, - Before the clamour to build vast conference centres, stadiums and other eye-catching monuments goes too far, should we not refurbish Busaras? A recent wait there brought home to me just what so many of our visitors and tourists have to contemplate as they await buses to distant parts.
The whole place looked like a slum. Litter was scattered around and any ledge was decorated with empty plastic bottles, ice-cream cartons and assorted wrappers. A newsagents had a discarded paper dissolving into mush at its door. No cleaner was to be seen, although a few moments with a brush would have worked wonders. Draughts came from all directions: I counted a dozen doors open and I tried and failed to close another.
The destination boards seemed to have been produced by a junior school and there was no place to put them but along the walls. The only place heat was felt was in the men's room, but there was no other inducement to delay there.
The staff was friendly and helpful and one could hear the announcements; otherwise the atmosphere was of a toilet at the docks, with apologies to dockers.
Can nobody toss a few millions to improve this gateway into our supposedly booming country? - Yours, etc.,
Fred Gillmor, Back Acre, Strandhill, Co Sligo.