Madam, - The Government's decision not to acquire Lissadell House on behalf of the people is the worst example of collective male chauvinism I have seen for a long time. This (almost) entirely male Government felt no sense of obligation to keep in public ownership the childhood home of two of the most prominent women in Irish history, which was being offered to the State at a knockdown price.
If the Government could find more than €25 million to buy Farmleigh - beautiful as it is, it was simply the former home of a business family - why could it not find the €4.5 million to buy Lissadell, a building that is arguably far more significant for the majority of Irish people? The reason is simply that it didn't want to. The recently quoted refurbishment cost of €28-30 million was simply a smokescreen and an example of the worst kind of departmental spinning.
Of course, Government spin-doctors will tell us there is no money, there is an economic downturn, they have to prioritise, etc., etc. Who are they kidding? Ireland is now one of the richest countries in the world. I am convinced they simply didn't prioritise Lissadell because it was the home of two Irish heroines and not heroes. - Yours, etc.,
NOREEN BYRNE,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.