Sir, - You give very full coverage to the annual Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot organised by the Sandycove Bathers' Association (The Irish Times December 28th) but no mention was made of the purpose of the swim, which was to raise money for local charities. This year the big crowd contributed over £1,000 to the funds of Dunmore House, where the Brothers of St John of God have provided services for handicapped young people for over a quarter of a century. On behalf of the association may I use your columns to thank the crowd for their generosity and to wish them on behalf of the association a peaceful and happy 1999? - Yours, etc., John Fleetwood,
President, Sandycove Bathers' Association, Proby Square, Blackrock, Co Dublin.