Madam, - Dublin on a sunny Sunday morning. Paintings bringing wonderful colour and a festive air to the railings of St Stephen's Green. Artists mingling cheerily with a scattering of tourists and strollers. No noise, little traffic. A peaceful scene.
Then the picture changed. A motorcycle Garda double-parked his machine and fixed tickets to the entire line of artists' cars. Then came the clampers whose devilish work was overseen by the diligent Garda.
These artists, many of them elderly and all very proud of their year's work, obviously had to be taught a lesson. They may have paid the city for the privilege of displaying their work, but they must learn that in this same city of Dublin, the law is enforced rigidly, relentlessly and with absolute equanimity.
My memory of the occasion is not, therefore of a pleasant Sunday ritual, but of a tearful elderly lady returning from her cup of tea to find her car clamped and of a disbelieving Dutch tourist photographing the zealous garda and the implacable clampers. Perhaps he will have the pictures framed and exhibit them next year?
O city fathers, will you ever cop yourselves on? - Yours, etc.,
PETER COOGAN, Temple Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare.