Sir, - On a recent trip to North Yorkshire I couldn't help noticing the stark contrast in landscape between that country and ours. It was not until I experienced such a well-kept countryside that the poor condition of my own hit home.
I was walking down by the river at Castletown this week. Among many eyesores were a burnt-out car, numerous bundles of empty cans countless numbers of plastic bags. As I observed a heron standing on a rock across the river I noticed the rock on which it was standing had two plastic bags entangled in its foliage. To add to my dismay was the fact that the beautiful day reminded me of the time when I could swim in the river.
This is of course old news but that not mean it cannot be said. We are destroying our natural resources daily. I am not preaching. I am concerned. I am saying "Help" and above all I am saying "Action must be taken". I could not buy a shopping bag in all of Celbridge, Maynooth or Dunne Stores Lucan, when I last tried.
Nobody likes litter, not even those who create it, but if even the smallest effort is met with antipathy, we will continue to live in an increasingly dirty country. This is an appeal to shops and councils and other concerned citizens to help us achieve a dignity which we an afford. - Yours, etc.
Barbara Dunne, Hazelhatch Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare.