Sir, - As an annual visitor to the Irish Republic for the past eight years - having cycled through Counties Wicklow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork, Galway, Mayo and Sligo and Donegal - I have become increasingly saddened, dismayed and appalled by the scale of new building of both roads and houses throughout all these areas.
While it is time that Ireland needs to develop its transport system and to provide housing for its growing population, surely it would be possible to cater for these needs in a more environmentally friendly way, causing minimal damage to Ireland's unique landscape.
Yes, land is cheap in Ireland, but is it really necessary to allow such enormous grass-covered, concrete-bound spaces around each new house? Is it really necessary to cover every acre of land adjacent to roads within a few miles of every town, large or small, with new bungalows completely incompatible with local traditional building styles?
As for transport, it seems that Ireland is emulating the US in its transport policy - i.e., "Cars rule, OK" - at the cost of ruining its precious heritage of incomparable countryside. The Glen of the Downs is just one of the most glaring examples of the Government's headlong rush to copy the worst aspects of UK policies, which have now been largely brought to a halt in favour of policies aiming to promote the use of public transport.
The Irish Government should divert some of its road-building funds to investment in a better railway system running faster, cleaner, more frequent and reliable trains, and by re-opening long-defunct lines to places at present without any train service, such as Co Donegal. (Perhaps this could be an example of cross-Border co-operation?)
If these policies are not implemented soon, I fear Ireland will no longer be a tourist destination for those who seek peace, tranquillity and beauty, but rather just another suburban-sprawl-covered country with car-crowded roads, far from the "rush-hour Ireland" depicted on the postcards.
To misquote Philip Larkin, "And that will be Ireland gone." - Yours, etc.,
Janet E. Ahmad, Deakin Grove, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England.