Sir, – Seán Moncrieff has captured the unfortunate state of our beloved O’Connell Street extremely well (“Dublin’s O’Connell Street represents a spectacular failure of what our Republic should be”, Magazine, August 6th).
His description of Dublin 1 generally is in accord with what I read and hear from reliable sources.
How O’Connell Street has altered during my lifetime.
In the early 1960s, as a young bride, I travelled twice weekly from my home in Blackrock to my evening classes in Cathal Brugha Street by public transport and on foot, walking the full length of O’Connell Street late at night.
At end of class, I retraced my steps stopping of for coffee with my friend Miriam on the way – the only deadline was to catch the last bus home.
It seems to me that I would be denied that freedom of movement in safety in 2023.
In those far-off days, O’Connell Street was peaceful, clean and a joy to stroll along, even at night.
In the meantime, where have the custodians of our city’s main street gone wrong?
It appears that they have not moved with the times nor kept in mind that O’Connell Street is the geographical heart of our nation. – Yours, etc,
MARY RIGNEY,
Dublin 18.