Sir, - It is very strange that Bishop Ryan in Carlow would want to carry out a radical reordering of the cathedral there at a time when the mood is to preserve and restore historical buildings, as evidenced by the work in Cobb Cathedral, and the recently completed restoration of Enniscorthy Cathedral - the latter helped with a grant of £150,000 from the National Heritage Council. This is even more strange when one considers how Bishop Ryan subscribed generously to the fund raising appeal for the restoration and preservation of St. Brigid's Church of Ireland in Kildare.
Bishop Ryan stated originally that the reordering proposed for Carlow was to comply with the directives of Vatican II. This argument is now seen to lack substance, and in an RTE interview on August 21st, he admitted that the reordering was in line with his own personal preference. However, this is not the preference of the majority of his parishioners.
Recently the Archbishop elect of Armagh has said that the Catholic Hierarchy had to consult with the people it they were not to be alienated. Bishop Ryan so far has failed to consult with his parishioners, or with any of the groups opposed to the reordering of the cathedral.
Evidence of Dr. Ryan's recent reordering can be seen in Naas Church, which could not be termed in any way sympathetic to the building and where the congregation protested at the time, to no effect. In Carlow, the cathedral has:
(a) A Grade 1 listing in the Foras Forbatha survey, signifying a building of international significance.
(b) it is listed for preservation in the County Development Plan.
(c) The National Heritage Council, in its reply to the bishop, noted the value and merit of the artefacts and furnishings.
(d) 6,000, people in Carlow signed a petition requesting that the sanctuary he retained as it is now.
Why then should the bishop want to, and indeed be allowed to, destroy a major part of Carlow's great heritage? Yours, etc.
Castletown,
Ballylinan,
Athy.