Sir, - It was interesting to read (The Irish Times, August 25th) about a plan to transform the Carlisle Pier in Dun Laoghaire with a "£100 million 'national icon' to commemorate the Irish dispora".
On the face of it, this seems a good idea. The Carlisle Pier is dilapidated and disused. The architect appointed is of international stature, and his proposals seem dramatic and interesting.
On analysis, however, the proposal appears to be little more than another development of expensive apartments, with an upmarket hotel, plus an arcade of fancy shops and exotic coffee bars. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but the notion of tacking on something to be called an "Irish diaspora museum" is rather strange. Am I alone in thinking there is something tasteless about this whole proposal? Is it not even more offensive when we remind ourselves that many thousands of those who left their homeland via Dun Laoghaire pier are now living out their elderly years in poverty and loneliness in foreign parts?
Would it not be more fitting if the Dun Laoghaire development were carried out by the State to include, rather than luxury apartments and posh hotels, sheltered accommodation and hostels for at least some of the needy survivors of the diaspora? - Yours, etc.,
Gerry Kennedy, Killala, Co Mayo.