Madam, - Despite widespread appeals, the Government decided last July not to purchase the Lissadell estate, giving fiscal rectitude as its reason. Four months after arriving at this decision the Government found no difficulty in finding the funds to purchase Durrow Abbey at a cost of €3 million - only slightly less than the asking price for Lissadell.
The estate is again in private hands and the new owners have stated that they are prepared to extend the opening hours at Lissadell, but without the original furniture specially commissioned for the house and its memorabilia the house will be hardly worth visiting.
The Government now has a last chance to redeem itself by acquiring the contents of Lissadell for a figure reported to be €1 million prior to next week's auction. There are only a few days left to arrive at a decision to save the contents for the nation and to enter into an agreement with the Walsh family to retain the contents there on permanent loan. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT JAMES,
Nutgrove Park,
Dublin 14.