Sir, - In his review (Weekend, February 17th) of Caroline Constant's book Eileen Gray, Robert O'Byrne suggests that "it cannot be said that the designer ever showed much interest in the country of her birth". However, in the course of a lengthy correspondence with me in 1973-75 about the possibility of having her carpet designs woven in Ireland, in almost every letter she reiterated her desire to see Ireland again, her pleasure at the prospect of having her work made in Ireland - so much so that she offered to waive her royalties - her interest in Irish architecture, and much else. It would be more accurate to say that the country of her birth never showed much interest in her, until the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland made her an honorary fellow when she was 94.The real national disgrace was that neither the Irish State nor the RIAI made any move to acquire her world-famous house €1027 in the South of France when it was for sale in recent years. The French state put us to shame by purchasing it and listing it for preservation. The National Museum has retrieved the national honour by purchasing the contents of her Paris flat, which, incidentally, comprise very much more than "memorabilia" - unique prototype items of furniture design among other things. I understand that these will be included in a major exhibition in Collins Barracks towards the end of the year. - Yours, etc., Dorothy Walker, St Mary's Lane, Dublin 2.