A chara, - The commendable foresight of successive Governments in refusing to upgrade the N9 from Waterford to Dublin presents us with a uniquely exciting tourism opportunity.
Having first overcome the obvious difficulty of convincing visitors that this relic of a bygone age is in fact the main link between two of the country's major cities, we can then go on to fully exploit its enormous potential as a heritage trail cum adventure park.
What, for instance, can any mere roller coaster offer by comparison with the thrill of overtaking with what seems like a clear road ahead, only to discover a previously unseen vehicle rising at speed from a cleverly concealed and unmarked dip in the road.
Tourists can even join in a traditional N9 convoy, a conga-line of assorted traffic hypnotically following someone Damon Hill could drive faster than as the road ducks under right-angled railway bridges, comes almost within touching distance of ancient abbeys and grazing sheep, all the while twisting and turning, seeking out as many small towns and villages to wind through as possible.
There is further diversion to be savoured in these pretty hamlets with locals diving into doorways as huge trucks squeeze through narrow streets like toothpaste from a tube.
So let us hope that this present administration does nothing to compromise the integrity of this remarkably well preserved monument to early 19th-century road engineering.
Then we can truly say: come back in time on the ould N9! - Yours, etc.
Chris O'Keeffe, Grantstown Village, Waterford.