Sir, – Alfred Smyth (Opinion Analysis, July 15th) is perhaps too pessimistic about the state of Irish heritage. I have never been to Monasterboice or had any involvement with the OPW, so cannot comment about its present state or that organisation. I can only write on our own experience, as a small community group in south Roscommon which is involved in stabilising parts of the deserted Norman settlement of Rinndoon.
We have had the most tremendous support from a variety of state and council organisations and have even had a private donation towards our efforts to prevent most of the 13th-century sites from further collapse. We are doing this on behalf of the landowner, PJ Grady, who is also an enthusiastic supporter of our efforts.
Roscommon County Council encouraged us to join the Irish Walled Town Network, which is part of the Heritage Council, and since 2009 we have annually been given an increasing level of grants for the stabilisation of the town wall and its three towers.
The Heritage Council funded information boards for each of the seven main sites, which are much appreciated by the many visitors. Roscommon County Council and the Department of the Environment have given us grants towards the hospital and church, and Fáilte Ireland paid for the infrastructure of the looped walk around Rinndoon, which is now attracting more than 5,000 walkers a year.
Rory McNeary from the University of Ulster is to start, in the new year, an archaeological survey of the Viking harbour. In 2012, a NUIG Galway postgraduate student is to carry out a geophysical survey of areas north and south of the town wall. Queen’s University Belfast has advised on a grave in the Protestant cemetery. We have had great support, both materially and morally, from the National Museum of Ireland. We have a superb project team of David Sweetman, Kevin Blackwood and Ivor McIlveen, who provide sensible and workable solutions to the requirements of the National Monument Service.
It’s not all despondency. We hope we can have the pleasure of showing Alfred Smyth around Rindoon and give him some hope on Irish heritage. – Yours, etc,