17th November 2014
Over the past few months Millstreet Town Park Committee have come under unrelenting ill-considered and intemperate criticisms regarding our management of the Town Park in the local media.
We refer specifically to the criticisms of Mr.Matt Murphy.For the record we enclose a copy of the Town Parks response to his letter of the 29/09/2013 wherein we advised Mr.Murphy of an alternative walk to mitigate any short term inconvenience to the general public.
We are not legislators,as of now coursing is a legal activity governed by conditions imposed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and also comes under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture.
If Mr. Murphy or indeed the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports or the Association of Hunt Saboteurs Ireland have issues regarding coursing then surely the correct procedure would be to petition the legislators in Dail Eireann for a change in the legislation.
We have particular difficulty with Mr. Murphy’s criticism and the inconsistencies contained in his various letters.
In his letter of 29/09/2013 his concluding paragraph acknowledged the good work done in the Park over the years by the committee and stated that it is a wonderful facility and greatly appreciated.
In his letter of 12/10/2014 he writes of the contempt that he says that our committee has for the people of Millstreet and that the committee is basically a GAA Club in all but name which contentions we totally and emphatically refute.
In his letter of 15/10/2014 he then acknowledges the time and effort that our committee have given to our community over the years. However, it is noted that he is quoted in the Corkman of 13/11/2014 that he has general issues with the Town Park in addition to coursing.
Our committee is made up of people who give unselfishly of their time to enhance the facilities of the Town Park. The amenities in the Park and their constant utilisation speak volumes. Furthermore, several of our members are involved in the operation of the Local Lotto, the proceeds of which benefit the Park and other clubs in our community. ,
Our members were particularly dismayed and saddened by Mr. Murphy’s call in his letter of 12/10/2014 telling the public to stop buying Local Lotto tickets and note that he has made no attempt to retract this admonition. Even at this late stage, a change of heart by Mr. Murphy regarding the Lotto tickets would be a very welcome gesture. Finally, any reduction in the finances available either from the locality or State funding will have serious consequences for the future of the Town Park.
Millstreet Tidy Town Committee
