A campaign has begun to save a Kerry house which has links with beheaded French Queen Marie Antoinette.
The building, an 18th century wine merchant's home in Dingle is reputed to have been the planned safe haven of the queen - had a scheme to save her from the guillotine succeeded back in 1792.
The Queen of France herself scuppered the plan by refusing to leave Paris without her also doomed husband King Louis XVI.
The two-storey house has been known over the years as both the Presbytery and the Rice House, after the wine merchant whose son, Count James Louis Rice, played a major role in the plot to save Marie Antoinette.
Once the property of the church, it is now owned by Udaras na Gaeltachta and is currently up for sale.
Before any property deal goes ahead, An Taisce want the house to be officially listed.
Kerry County Council has already granted permission for alterations to be made at the house to permit its conversion to a craft shop and cafe on the basis that it is not listed.
Many of the windows, doors and mouldings that would have greeted the queen, had she ever made it to Dingle, are still as they were back in the late 18th century - and heritage activists want to make sure those historic features remain in place.
The campaign has the backing of An Taisce as well as the sympathy of some members of Udaras na Gaeltachta.
A plan is being looked at that could ensure the preservation of the executed queen's would-be home in its present state.
PA