Our Readers Write......

A Big Thank You

To all our friends in St. Mary’s for the cards, presents and the many good wishes on our recent 25th Wedding Anniversary.
We are a very lucky couple!
Damien and Mary Douglas.

Ref: Lucan Muintir Na Tire Hall

Last week's notice by Patrice Casey, Secretary/Trustee of Muintir Na Tire Hall was misleading to say the least. She said that "no-one was asked or told to leave" following the AGM in May of last year. Yet leases were not renewed, tenants were told that the building was "closing" and groups like the ICA were only given a guarantee that the building would remain open until the following December.

There was no election of new officers at the AGM nor were any additions to the Committee permitted. In fact Trustees denied when queried that the building belonged to the people of Lucan and instead claimed that they themselves own it (recent correspondence lists Patrice Casey and Joseph Keegan as "Joint Tenants").

Whether this means they own it privately or hold it in trust on behalf of the people of Lucan is still unclear. I sent a registered letter to Patrice Casey last June requesting an Emergency Meeting to discuss a number of operational matters, but I did not receive the courtesy of a response.

As a result there are many valid questions still outstanding regarding the running of Lucan Muintir Na Tire and indeed its affiliation to the national body.

The community of Lucan raised money for this building to be purchased on their behalf and they deserve clarity about its future. In this respect, with an AGM again falling due, I formally request through these pages that the Secretary convene a meeting open to the people of Lucan in the near future, with at least 14 days' notice given. In the interests of transparency the meeting should be fully voice or video-recorded, with the media and representatives of the National Muintir Na Tire body also invited. Nominations should also be sought in good time for positions such as Secretary, Chair and Treasurer.

Patrice Casey may be correct and the all the concerns raised are simply "false stories and uniformed reports". But if this is the case then surely she and fellow Trustee Mr Joseph Keegan should have no difficulties in holding an open, transparent public meeting to clear up such misconceptions for once and for all.

Paul Gogarty, Lucan resident