Sir, - Might the owner be permitted to respond to Michael Tatham's letter (October 5th) complaining that Lissadell House was shut at the time of his recent visit?
Whatever the house's "historical and nationalist importance", it is also my family home. As such, we have to strike a balance between the wishes of those who would like to visit the house when it suits them, and our own desire for a reasonable degree of privacy.
For several years the house has therefore been open every weekday from the beginning of June until mid-September, when it is closed, for both economic and practical reasons: firstly, daily visitor numbers decline sharply in September as the holiday season comes to an end; and secondly, we need to begin again our long-term programme of building conservation and maintenance. This was started some nine years ago with the generous help of the Heritage Council and the invaluable assistance of the architectural service of the Office of Public Works, and it will continue for the foreseeable future.
The house will re-open on June 1st 2000 in the normal way, when I hope Mr Tatham will be able to pay us a visit. - Yours, etc.
Sir Josslyn Gorebooth, Lissadell House, Ballinful, Co Sligo.