Sir, - Some weeks ago you published a letter from me in support of Frank Kilfeather's admiration of the showbands. Now I find myself supporting his views on Jubilee Hall at Blackrock College.
Apart from the State exams I was mainly concerned with the musical activities in the hall and between 1939 and 1989 I was Father Joseph Corless's clarinettist and/or percussionist in 24 Gilbert and Sullivan operas and two pageants. These productions all had a great standard. In addition my introduction to the clarinet was in the hall in Father Martin Maiben's orchestra. In other words the hall represented the start and a highlight of my entire part-time musical career.
Needless to remark I was appalled, at the recent a.g.m. of the college union, to hear of the intention to knock the hall down. It was said that it needed repair and dry rot was mentioned. However a marvellous job was done on the college chapel some years ago when serious dry rot was also involved.
After the a.g.m. I looked closely at the hall, which appeared to me superb and dignified and certainly not fit for destruction. - Yours, etc.,
John W. Miley, Island View, Malahide, Co Dublin.