Sir, - Congratulations to your correspondent Lorna Siggins for bringing the plight of Tyrone House to attention (The Irish Times, August 9th). My late mother, Norah St George Joyce, grand-daughter of Christopher St George of Tyrone, always believed that one day the State would recognise the architectural importance of her former home and of a family which had many interesting historical links with Co Galway.
Sadly, on each nostalgic journey she made back to Kilcolgan over the years, the house's disintegration continued unabated and efforts to halt the decay of a once splendid 18th-century building fell on deaf ears.
Other Irish country houses have been more fortunate but Tyrone, although recognised as a Georgian architectural gem providing inspiration for writers such as John Betjeman, Lady Gregory and Somerville and Ross, has had to suffer the ignominy of being plundered unmercifully. Although a listed building, its beautifully crafted fireplace and ceiling cornices, together with carved stone arches and balustrades, have been hacked of and stolen and the vandalism is still going on.
Should not the "Celtic Tiger" recognise the value of protecting Ireland's architectural legacy? Surely Tyrone is a good example of a building with a fascinating past which could be rescued under the new architectural heritage Bill with the support of Ms Sile de Valera, Minister for Arts and Heritage. - Yours, etc., Mrs Marie Conway,
Glendara, Cratloe Moyle, Co Clare.