Sir, – Alfred P Smyth’s refreshingly passionate article (Opinion Analysis, July 15th) rings many bells for us professional historians who regularly take our students and international visitors on field trips to see Ireland’s magnificent built heritage. For our students, real engagement with familiar sights is a revelation and for our non-Irish colleagues it is a marvel. We have so much in our landscape that has been lost or destroyed elsewhere. We desperately need to make the most of it.
University historians and archaeologists are also public servants. We are ready and willing to offer our services and expertise to Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works (OPW). We have the knowledge and want to share it. Please let us. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I hope that the tens of thousands of visitors who enjoy the Phoenix Park, Castletown House in Co Kildare and the many other properties managed so magnificently by the Office of Public Works will judge Alfred Smyth’s article (July 15th) to be unbalanced, and also offensive to the many excellent people working in that organisation. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I suggest that the “Disneyfication” of our historic sites by twee hoardings would have a negative impact on the sites in question. Prof Smyth should be aware that the rich tapestry of Ireland’s ancient sites are all the more intriguing to the visitor precisely because they have lain quietly in the Irish landscape over the centuries, an immense source of wonder to those who make the effort to commune with their past history without recourse to interpretative centres in every instance.
Prof Smyth’s objection to the notice at Monasterboice, which includes the phrase “Beyond (sic) a list of abbots little is known of the story of the monastery”, displays a sad ignorance of Hiberno-English.
The use of “beyond” in the sense of “other than” has been normal usage in Ireland for many generations.
A weekend retreat in the calm atmosphere of a place such as Monasterboice is commended to restore the Prof Smyth’s equanimity. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Many summers have been spent in Ireland clambering over dry-stone walls, battling brambles and bullocks struggling to reach historic sites and then only to find locked gates, hostile notices and certainly, no sign of any worthwhile information.
Prof Smyth’s courageous article will, I hope, encourage the OPW to take on board many of the points raised.
As your readers know, this State body can draw on many experts in the field who would, I am sure, be happy to assist in putting together a friendly, informative, historical introduction to the site the intrepid traveller has finally managed to track down.
Our visitors (including the natives) need to feel welcome. –
Yours, etc,
Sir, – Prof Smyth is to be congratulated for bringing to public attention the dreadful heritage signage at Monasterboice and Slane. Regrettably, his experience is to be replicated at virtually all of Ireland’s national monuments and historic towns and anyone with even an inkling of interest in visiting these places will share his frustrations.
However, for crassness, it is surely hard to beat the local authority sign on the Anglo-Norman motte at Naas. It simply reads, “Historic Site. Keep Out”! – Yours, etc,