Madam, – Bank of Ireland should counteract allegations of cultural sabotage by returning Dublin’s former Parliament building – one of its chief architectural glories, now Bank of Ireland College Green – to the people of Ireland.
The Act of Union of 1800 was carried through with bribery and threats. And so in 1803 Bank of Ireland purchased the Parliament building for £40,000. The taxpayers of Ireland now propping up the bank should demand the return to public ownership of this masterpiece of Pearce and Gandon – a building of great historical significance. Perhaps the building could then house the art collections of all banks in receipt of Irish taxpayers’ money? – Yours, etc,