Sir, - Some months ago the last Irish residence of W.B. Yeats, Riversdale, was sold to a developer, along with its grounds.
A planning application now lies before South Dublin County Council for permission to demolish the house, clear the site and build 28 apartments there.
Ireland has suffered too much over the years at the hands of persons indifferent to the recognition and preservation of our heritage. One need only recall the fate of Coole Park and its associations with Lady Gregory, W.B. Yeats, the Irish literary revival and the Abbey Theatre. That house was neglected, allowed to fall into ruin, and eventually demolished. Not even a remnant exists.
But Riversdale House was inhabited until a few months ago. It will only compound our earlier loss if this house, where Yeats spent the last years of her life, should be wilfully destroyed.
We, the undersigned, wish to register our protest at this proposed act of cultural vandalism. - Yours, etc.,
Kevin Barry, Terence Brown, Maurice Craig, Gerald Dawe, Roy Foster, Colbert Kearney, Brendan Kennelly, John Kelly, Declan Kiberd, Thomas Kilroy, Frank McGuinness, Sean MacReamoinn, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Ann Saddlemyer, Colin Smythe, George Watson, Timothy Webb, MacDara Woods.