Madam, - There seems little reason to worry about the continued growth of the Irish economy so long as the zeal of our developers (private and semi-state) retains its current vigour. The remoteness of Erris invaded by lethal gas pipes, Tara enveloped within a boa-constrictor highway, the meagre infrastructure of village after village sprawling beneath acres of semi-detached houses, electric pylons about to march across the plains of Leinster like unstoppable soldier-ants, the Terryland Forest Park of Galway doomed to be lacerated by a half-witted "traffic solution". . .
And now the depredations are gloriously exported. An Irish company, Ballymore Properties, has bought a pair of working theatres in Berlin and has terminated their leases ( The Irish Times, January 9th). One of these houses was the historic home of Max Reinhardt's world-famous productions of the pre-Nazi era.
As a playwright whose work has been performed in Berlin, I find this a very shocking business, and I hope I'm not alone. Thank goodness the theatres' management is refusing to move out. I appeal to Irish actors, playwrights and producers to offer their German colleagues vociferous and effective support if Ballymore should insist upon its "rights".
- Yours, etc,
JOHN ARDEN, St Bridget's Place Lower, Galway.