Béal na Bláth parking ban is sadly rewriting history

Congratulations to John Creedon, on his RTÉ 1 (Sunday, Jul 21) programme about Michael Collins, and the day Collins was shot, on Aug 22, 1922.

I am an admirer of Collins and the programme brought tears a-flowing.

I am 84 years of age and make the journey to Béal na Bláth every year. This year will be no exception, if God spares me. I’ll be there on Sunday, Aug 25.

I travel there with a bus group from Cork, but, in the past two years, we were not allowed to park near the monument, which we had done for the previous 40 years with the help of the gardaí and with great courtesy.

This parking restriction is a major obstacle to me and my old friends, as we are not too steady on the limbs and have to sit in the bus to participate in the ceremony.

Last year, the bus was directed to stop some distance from the monument and we would have been unable to walk back.

It was a disappointing day for us.

I was told that I could appeal my parking problem to the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, but, surely, the problem can be sorted out at local level, to assist and help a few old comrades of the ‘Big Fellow’, so we can enjoy this annual event in Béal na Bláth with a little comfort and relaxation.

Thomas A Devine

Little Island

Co Cork