Sir, - The attempt by Dublin Corporation to erect a high-rise structure in the middle of O'Connell Street on foot of a flawed competition and without appropriate planning permission is puzzling to say the least, particularly as it is obvious that all the buildings and all the monuments in O'Connell Street are built in relation to human scale (Nelson Pillar was no exception).
This matter is all the more inexplicable as the Corporation, to give them their due, have proposed an otherwise admirable development plan for O'Connell Street. However, in my opinion a way should be found to allow for a far greater input from the public. For instance, no provision appears to be made for a memorial to Pearse.
Dublin Corporation does not own O'Connell Street. Its role is that of guardian, which implies an obligation to service it. It would behove this august body to now descend from the clouds and attend to the monuments that already exist on the ground of that street.
The culpable, disgraceful and blatant neglect of the monument at the intersection of Middle Abbey and O'Connell Streets has to be seen to be believed - that is, what is still visible of that monument.
Through neglect, it has been allowed to be covered by the wild, overgrown branches and leaves of a nearby tree. The head of the statue is visually decapitated by an overgrowth of leaves. This is not meant to be a memorial to Tarzan. Until the overdue pruning takes place, a cover cap the Corporation normally uses to place over the top of a disused parking meter could be slipped over the head to show that the statue is temporarily out of commission.
This monument was erected by public subscription to honour Sir John Gray, who was the owner of the Freeman's Journal (Dr O'Reilly please note) as well as being MP for Kilkenny City.
John Gray was also chairman of Dublin Corporation Waterworks Committee. He was instrumental in procuring the Vartry River water to supply Dublin City and suburbs.
The Corpo could take a leaf from his Brook. - Yours, etc., Micheal O Nuallain,
Monkstown, Co Dublin.