Sir. - I am writing from my gallery and small Cultural Centre in Temple Bar. I hope you can print this as I want to express how outraged I am that Frank McDonald should slander the entire area of Temple Bar.
We moved here because it was the cultural section of Dublin. We operate during the day, every day, seven days a week. We welcome massive amounts of tourists at our premises in Temple Bar. We hand out hundreds of Temple Bar Guides, in which features the Gallery and Cultural Centre trails. Our customers are from all over Ireland and indeed the world. Now, if Temple Bar is nothing but a meeting place for drinkers, tell me why people from all over are coming here to see and experience the cultural quarter, Temple Bar.
As for the pubs and bars, yes there are many, but there are many pubs all over Dublin City and, to be frank, I can't tell the difference between the area around South Anne Street and down here. I sympathise with you regarding noise levels and other undesirable problems at night in Temple Bar. But there are solutions and I am happy to discuss my ideas with Frank McDonald.
It is hard enough to operate a retail business and small cultural centre without all this onesided negative coverage. I would call on you, Frank, to come as a resident and at least sit in on one of the Tidy Towns Committee of Temple Bar meetings. You will find it a lot more productive. - Yours, etc.,
Africa Calls,
Temple Lane South,
Dublin 2.