Madam, - On a recent visit to West Cork I set out to visit Béal ná Bláth, the infamous valley where one of our most notable political leaders patriot and revolutionary Michael Collins - lost his life in an ambush in 1922.
I am well used by now to the lack of cultural and historical sensitivity displayed by a lot of the powers that be in this country, but was still a little taken aback by the slip-shod incompetence displayed by the blockheads in Cork County Council to the place where such a notable Irishman, the subject of countless books and a Hollywood film, met his death.
Specifically as regards assisting visitors to actually get to the place.
My "adventure" started when I set out from Clonakilty north to Enniskean, having been informed by the tourist office that there would probably be a signpost there.
There wasn't. The next place I had been directed to was Copeen, on the main road from Cork to Bantry.
Surprise, surprise, no signpost there either.
The map said east so I followed this road and eventually a somewhat arbitrarily positioned signpost materialised saying the place was 6km ahead.
I did wonder at this stage whether this was a mirage conjured up by my, by then, overactive imagination but no, we did soon arrive at Béal na Bláth itself where I found a small village on the main road with three minor roads branching off. Signposts aplenty but, wait for it, none to the Collins site. Eeny meeny miney mo ...
I was finally directed down one of these roads by a local who explained that they don't put up signposts because "they'd all be stolen" and, finally found the place.
This consisted of a grey stone Celtic-style cross and a plaque with information.
This would have been fine but of course the blockheads had to spoil this by erecting a hideously designed raised platform area in front of the cross, with railings and red painted bricks of such appalling taste that you wouldn't find it gracing the most run-down council estate. - Yours, etc,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH,
Kenilworth Park,
Dublin 6.