A chara, Frank McDonald's article (April 21st) follows firmly in the footsteps of Jesus when he evicted the traders from the steps of the Temple. I believe that if Jesus looked back on that episode he'd admit he made a bad call. His actions separated the "church" from the common culture of the people who belong to that church - a problem which has not gone away. The Temple in this instance is the Cultural Quarter and the traders are pubs and lager fouls. The article brings up a fundamental question: what is culture? Reading between the lines Frank's definition is a sanitised and exclusive one.
Calypso Theatre Company, which I manage, is not based in Temple Bar, but we performed in Meeting House Square for three weeks in a fully serviced marquee during February/March. The play Rosie and Starwars by Charlie O'Neill, which played to capacity audiences, dealt with the whole notion of culture and diversity, tackling the exclusion of travellers by settled people. During these three weeks 2,100 people attended the play. In addition to theatregoing audiences, this number included 13 youth and community groups, 14 travellers' groups, and several school groups.
There are few sites in the city centre where an innovative project such as this can happen. Ironically, Temple Bar proved ideal not just because of its city centre location and its popularity, but because Meeting House Square is - contrary to Frank's evidence - quiet and safe.
For too long, disconnected and austere Temples of Culture have been supported and developed in this country. The Temple Bar model of culture living alongside and integrated with everyday life - work, leisure, shopping - is a much more relevant, accessible and vibrant one. If that brings with it a bit of excessive drinking the odd soiled footpath and illegally parked cars, it's not pleasant but surely they are problems which can be managed and solved.
If Jesus was the environment correspondent for The Irish Times, I'm sure he'd compromise by bringing back the traders to the steps of the Temple and ensuring they behave. - Yours, etc.,
Manager,
Calypso Theatre Company. South Great George's Street. Dublin 2.