Sir, - The saddest thing about the destruction of Dublin's pre-Viking remains ("Pre-Viking Anglo-Saxon dwelling found in Dublin", The Irish Times, February 26th) is how happy everyone involved seems to be. The director of the dig found it all "very exciting", the Minister of the Environment launched a book on it; RTE is making a film on it; the director of the national museum declares: "We now know that there was urban life in the proper sense in Dublin by 900 AD."
Do you know what urban life in the proper sense means? They have allowed the oldest site in the city to be destroyed and a cement apartment block be built over it. Who is surprised that the block will be called the Old City? Who is surprised that across the street from the destroyed Viking excavations a farrago called the Viking Experience is on sale in an abandoned church?
Temple Bar Properties know their Irish Times language. They put up story-boards, a viewing platform from which people could see wattle walls and ancient pavement rise from a thousand-year sleep. But I think I'd prefer the old Wood Quay approach where nosy passers-by were chased off with a shovel. At least they were honest.
The chances of preserving in situ a single fragment of the ancient city are getting longer. Is there not one archaeologist with the pride to resign in protest, throw in the trowel? - Yours, etc.,
Adrian Kenny, Kingsland Parade, Portobello, Dublin 8.