Several Irish islands are connected to the mainland by an isthmus as if the shore can’t bear to let them go — an umbilical cord that ties them to the shore till time erodes the link and renders it a ‘true’ island.

DUN LAOGHAIRE Rathdown County Council, in its wisdom, has seen fit to propose a change in the by-laws regarding the coastline stretching from Booterstown to Bray, prohibiting “fishing for pleasure” in all but two very small areas — Bullock and Collimore harbours.