Growing concerns over the condition and future of the Grand Canal.
A public meeting sponsored by the Canal Joint Committee at the Manion House in Dublin found that there was a growing awareness of the importance of the Grand Canal and the need to preserve it.
David Cronin, architect and town planner, said that responsibility for taking care of the Grand Canal was both regional and national.
The canal should not be preserved but improved.
David Cronin added that the failures in taking care of the Grand Canal were the result of the fact that Dublin had failed to throw out a personality "the Dublin man". He said that the role of the Lord Mayor had been degraded to a stepping stone to a political career and described the City Manager as "The Minister's Man". He suggested that a plan not just for preservation but also improvment needed to be made.
Frank Egan of Tullamore said that people who lived along the banks of the canal felt that Dublin was not living up to its obligations as the capital city. He said that the government should declare the canal "a national amenity".
The canal belonged to all the people.
The poor condition of the canal at Athy was because the farmers used it for dumping purposes and people should be public spirited enough to stop this from happening.
Rev PJ Murphy of Robertstown said that several members of cabinet had given assurances that the canal would be reopened. The city manager said that Professor Schaechterle advised that the canal should be closed and made into a roadway.
This episode of 'Newsbeat' was broadcast on 29 April 1968.
