It surely is a poor heart that never rejoices. And yet there have been begrudgers about staging of one of the world's most spectacular events in Ireland.

Chief among the whingers about the Tour de France are the Dublin City Centre Business Association (DCCBA), who have complained that their takings suffered because of the Tour. They have, apparently, suggested that they should be compensated and/or that their rates should be reduced.

One's heart bleeds for them, doesn't it?

Several spokespersons for the DCCBA have gone on record as saying that their takings were down by as much as 60 per cent last weekend. Tom Coffey, one of the spokesmen, suggested that rates should be reduced and that the Government should take up the slack. Why can't they get a life!

It seems extraordinary that, in the middle of a most amazing boom in Irish business, traders who are reaping huge benefits from the Celtic Tiger economy can be so negative when they are asked to make a contribution to the general good. One can only compliment a spokesman for Clery's, probably Dublin oldest and most respected store, who is on record as saying that, although the store had experienced a slump in sales, they were willing to accept this for the good of the race. Now there's a spokesman and a store with a heart in the right place.

We are very fortunate in this country that we have a healthy attitude to sport of all kinds. Whether it be hurling, football, soccer, racing or anything else we take to it with enthusiasm and, if truth be told, a lot of common sense. Our attitude develops a great sense of friendship and good-natured banter. Some months ago I was in Thurles for a National League hurling match between Tipperary and Limerick and, as the night was drawing in, supporters of both sides were gathered in Liberty Square having a drink and enjoying the "craic".

Then, as a bunch of Limerick supporters drifted by a group of victorious Tipperary followers, one Tipperary lad shouted: "Hey boys! Where are ye from?" Quick as a flash came the reply from the green-clad Limerickmen: "We don't know. It was dark when we left!".

That moment of hilarity, which evoked laughter all round, says much about our attitude, particularly when taken in the context of the controversy about the Shelbourne and Rangers UEFA Cup tie. Nobody could imagine such an exchange leading to anything but violence if Rangers came here in the present circumstances.

To get back to the original premise: it must be said that traders from Wicklow to Carrick-on-Suir, Dungarvan, Waterford, Youghal and Cork entered the spirit of the occasion and welcomed the Tour with open arms. They were also willing to spend money on presenting a happy face.

The opportunity was used, in typical Irish fashion, to show off to foreigners, not with any forelock-pulling but with a genuine cead mile failte.

What a pity then that the well-heeled traders of Dublin's city centre could not find it in their hearts to accept, like the man from Clery's, that any inconvenience was for the greater good of Dublin in particular and Ireland in general. And anyway, is it not likely that, if people did not spend money as normal last weekend, they will surely spend it another time. The money has not disappeared nor have the goods on sale. As well as that, the question arises: do the Dublin traders not realise that sports events bring enormous amounts of money into the city. Big matches at Croke Park, international rugby matches, international soccer matches and events such as the Spring Show and the Horse Show contribute enormously to the coffers of business people in Dublin.

Dublin also benefits greatly from such things as pop concerts, most of which are staged at venues provided by sports bodies. Sports bodies, therefore, contribute significantly to the commercial life of the capital.

What a pity it would be if we were not to have such celebrations of our diverse culture.

Why can the DCCBA not accept that the Tour de France, while costing money in the short term, has provided an investment in the future good of the city?

Surely it must be obvious that the many, many people who watched the Tour on television across the world may have been tempted to come here to see Ireland for themselves.

I am told that the television audience was between 900 and 950 million people. How could corporate Ireland possibly have gained this kind of publicity without the Tour? Can the DCCBA not realise that?

Even as pictures showing the darker side of our country were being shown all over the world, those pictures were, in many senses, being cancelled out by the pictures of the Tour, depicting a different Ireland.

Instead of whining about their notional losses the DDCBA should be inviting the Tour back again.