Sir, What an odd idea using the State Lottery to determine who will visit USS John F Kennedy when she arrives in Dublin Bay next July Odder still to permit the 2,500 lucky winners each to nominate three other visitors, with, the possibility of it degenerating into a money making affair as sometimes occurs in the case of some football matches.
I well remember what was possibly the first time a ship from a friendly foreign power made, a courtesy call to our young, independent State. Things then were done differently.
This was during the early 1920s (`24 or `25?) when USS Pittsburg anchored in Scotsman's Bay, off Dun Laoghaire, lately Kingstown Harbour. She stayed for a couple of weeks, and every day a large number of visitors were allowed on board. The only requirement was to stand in a queue at Saint Michael's Wharf before being ferried out by Pittsburgs fleet of steam pinnaces and barges, each with their crew of two or three friendly sailors.
While nothing like the size of JFK, Pittsburg was still quite an impressive ship. A battle cruiser of approximately 13,500 tonnes, she was a real old American "battle wagon" with her four tall smoke stacks and lattice masts. Dating from before the beginning of this century, she had seen active service in both the Spanish American and first World Wars. A brass plate mounted on board gave the details.
I was 17 years old the time and, with my brother, went on board several times during her long stay in Dublin Bay. But then, those were less organised and certainly more relaxed times. Yours, etc., Mount Maulin, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.