Sir, - The headline over the letter from Timothy Ryan (April 23rd), "Site of First Messiah", more accurately described what does exist on Fishamble Street than did the actual letter. Mr Ryan says he "heard the other day that the building in Fishamble Street where Handel first had his Messiah performed is to be turned into a commemorative garden", referring to this as "cultural genocide". The building where Handel first performed Messiah no longer exists.
What does exist, however, at 19 and 20 Fishamble Street is a wonderful, listed archway, adjacent to a ramshackle Georgian building (the Kennan's workshop). Both will be familiar, no doubt, to those who have attended the annual performance of extracts from Messiah on the site by Our Lady's Choral Society. Over the next year, what does exist on the site will be protected and restored with the help of the Dublin Civic Trust, and the restored archway will open into a courtyard commemorating Handel and his work. The landscaping of the garden will be designed by an artist, and the Early Music Organisation will work on the project with us. The Georgian building will be restored as cultural offices.
All the experts whom we have consulted believe this to be an appropriate way to commemorate an extremely important historical and cultural event. But most importantly, an appropriate environment will be created for the audiences who enjoy the annual performance of the Messiah extracts - an event we first started in 1992 and intend to continue with. - Yours, etc.,
Laura Magahy
Temple Bar Properties, Eustace Street, Dublin 2.