Dear Madam
All around the city we still have the old gas lamp holders, and the old electric tram-poles that supported the overhead cables that powered the old electric trams. These old electric poles can be seen along Strand Road, and along into the city centre, and further afield.

Now the question is this: Why are these old historic electric poles, and gas poles so neglected? They are never painted to preserve them for another hundred years, as they are now over a century old, 1896 for the electric poles and 1870 for the old gas lamp poles.

A query to the ESB by phone received a negative answer. They said they were not ESB property. The same answer was received from An Bord Gais.

So the question is who is responsible, or who owns them? If no one owns them then we the citizens of Dublin will have to claim them, and charge the ESB €1 per pole per week rent plus service charge plus VAT, so that we can have them painted!
Jim Byrne
Sandymount

Dear Madam
I’m trying to locate an old friend of mine whom I have lost touch with. His name is Donncha Cleary and he was featured in a news brief that you did back in 2004. I am in the US, and am having difficulty getting in touch with anyone in Ireland. What I am asking of you is to know which Scoil Mhuire he teaches at, and how to contact them to see if he still works there. I really appreciate any assistance you could provide.
Matthew Babb
425.879.8804
babbm@edmonds.wednet.edu
Can anyone out there help Matthew Babb in his search. Ed

Dear Madam
I want to say a big thank you through your newspaper to everyone who supported the sponsored Avon Walk Around The World for Breast Cancer in October.

Many of my customers and Representatives took part with hundreds more becoming involved by pledging donations to their friends and relatives who completed the 5k event in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

With some outstanding pledges still to come in, the walk has so far raised a phenomenal €94,000 for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, in association with our long-term charity partner ARC Cancer Support. This includes a one-off donation of US$25,000 (approx €21,000) from the Avon Foundation, the charitable arm of the company that works to improve the lives of women everywhere.

However, we all know that charity begins at home and I am so proud of all my colleagues and their family and friends who gave their time and support so willingly. The money will be used to develop and fund the ongoing work of the specialist Avon Breast Cancer Nurse Counsellor who works with women and their families from all over the country.

Four women are diagnosed every day so every cent counts. Thank you so much.
Carol Wright
Avon Area Manager

Dear Madam
It is easy for the Democratic Party and anti war groups in the US to criticize George W Bush and the Republican Party for the on-going war in Iraq. There has been strong anti-war sentiments in Britain and here in Ireland as well. But it is the troops in the front line who pay a terrible price in the name of democracy. While initially having mixed feelings about the conflict in Iraq I feel once the troops were in there, they deserved the public’s support.

Only a soldier can know the full horrors of war, the day to day conflict seeing colleagues and friends injured and killed. The awful separation from family and friends.

This scenario is vividly brought to life in the new excellent fictional US drama ‘Over There’ now showing at 10 o’clock every Tuesday night on Sky One. Gritty and realistic it shows in graphic detail the full brutality and dehumanising effects of warfare. Let us hope that there is a speedy conclusion to the Iraq conflict and western troops can be restored to the bosoms of family and friends.

Thank God we live in a democracy where free speech and freedom are sacrosanct.
Derek Sandford
Ringsend

Dear Madam
Regarding the Star of the Sea School photograph in the December edition of NewsFour, my daughter claims, and I agree, that I am wearing the largest tie in your photo. Michael Brennan, late of Oswald Road, is seated beside me.

This class received First Communion the morning after the North Strand bombing.
Miss Monahan charmed and instructed her class: an exceptional teacher who converted this pupil from ciotóg with the aid of head line copies purchased in Frosts shop, Sandymount village.

Somewhere among us are Jackie Stakeburn and Brian Carpenter and just a few who suffered poverty and deprivation.

I moved on to Scoil Ullmhucháin in Parnell Square after my communion year but the happy start under Miss Monahan remains with me.
Fiachra MacFhionnlaoich
Formerly 20 Wilfield Park, Sandymount

Dear Madam
I have been given NewsFour by my brother-in-law, Arnold O’B. There is a picture of a play taken about 1948 not 1943 (see photo below).

The man reading the paper was Joe Furlong. Sam was behind him, the cap on the side of his head. Celine Maguire was Mise éire in the white dress, the girl in uniform of Cumann na mBan was Moira Murphy and the other in uniform was Rose Smith, beside her was Liam Murphy, brother to Moira.

On the right side of the picture was Donal and Colum McKenna and behind them was Barry Kavanagh, Derville Maguire is the young girl. I forget the others but the people in charge were Liam Timmins and Paddy Maguire. I was a member of that club. Mrs Whelan taught us Irish dancing and we were looked after very well.

I was married to Sam, he died June 1966.
Yours truly
Madge O’Byrne
Clonskeagh

Dear Madam
I have been living on Strand Road for the last fifteen years and have been fascinated by Sandymount Strand, with all its activities and scenery.

I thought you might be interested in the enclosed poem for the Poetry Place in NewsFour. In it I have tried to express some of my thoughts and observations on the area. I will not be disappointed if you do not think it suitable, as I have had good fun writing it in any case.

I find NewsFour most interesting and informative and congratulate you and all your team on an excellent paper.
Yours sincerely
Eric H. de Courcy
Thank you for your kind words and the poem which has found its way into the Poetry Place. Ed