Sir, – The television news tells me that it is exactly one week until the commencement of Ireland’s latest presidency of the European Union. And details the large security operations involved.
My first letter to The Irish Times, or indeed any publication, was prompted by a flotilla of Garda motorbikes escorting a very fast-moving line of black limousines heading for Dublin Castle, presumably from Dublin Airport, through Dublin city centre.
It was 1974. I worked in the Dublin County Council offices in Parnell Square. Twenty-two-year-old me was not amused. I put pen to paper – literally – and raged against such VIP treatment of these EEC dignitaries. I recall observing that perhaps we should not become over-excited when certain people came to town. It was published. It may well lie somewhere still in your archives.
When I arrived home that evening, my father said that a Dr John Fleetwood had phoned to congratulate me on my missive. He advised me to call him back, which I did. Myself and the good doctor – himself a letter writer – had a good chat. Keep it up, young man, he told me.
And I have – with a decent publication strike rate. It very much looks like I’ll be sending a similar letter to you come next week. Or will this one suffice? – Yours, etc,
LARRY DUNNE
Rosslare Harbour,
Co Wexford.