About 40 years ago I worked for the local tourist office in Dun Laoghaire and I was based in Moran Park [the locals called it moron park] and at the time I would not have believed it if someone had predicted that I would about 20 years later be employed by a high-tech company based in Haigh Terrace only a few years away from the tourist office. My employment at Haigh Terrace did not last long because I was encouraged by senior management to move on. I returned to Dun Laoghaire about two years later because of an amazing an unexpected opportunity to join Ericsson. I remained with Ericsson for about ten years and then I decided to leave because the operation was to be re-located away from Dun Laoghaire. The reason why I mention my working life in Dun Laoghaire is because I am very familiar with the area were the new Library is now located. When I worked for the Tourist Office a drugs culture was beginning to take root in Dun Laoghaire [it was one of the first areas to have such a problem]. Then when I was based in Haigh Terrace many of the staff were unwilling to work overtime as the area was not safe at night as Moran park was populated by dealers and their drug addicted clients. When I joined Ericsson the town of Dun Laoghaire was entering into an economic depression from which it has yet to recover … the fact that Ericsson and other multi-nationals relocated did not help. Today if you walk along the main street you will see many empty shops especially near the peoples park. But despite the decline there is now much to like about the town. The People’s Park has been re-developed and it is now very attractive and well worth a visit. The East pier is amazing and the seafront is now an attractive area with many good restaurants. The new Public Library, officially called DLR Lexicon, opened today and because the weather was beautiful this morning I decided to visit and form my own opinion about the new structure which as been described [denounced] as a monstrosity and an extravagant waste of more than €30 million of taxpayers’ money. Despite what the locals believe the development has attracted much positive comment with The Irish Times describing the building as follows: “The new building is an oblong wedge, both in plan and elevation – something that’s more obvious from the sea than it is up close. It tapers to an enormous gable window facing towards Howth, a grand gesture that offers some of the most spectacular views of Dublin Bay, while side windows look out to either Dún Laoghaire or Sandycove. Clad in Iberian granite on its monumental north elevation that addresses the park, and in English red brick with granite coursing on the Haigh Terrace side (in sympathy with many of the town’s Victorian buildings), it was consciously designed to link the busy seafront area known as The Metals with the main shopping street, which is in a bad way.” Have a look at me photographs and form your opinion or better still pay a visit to Dun Laoghaire sooner rather than later.