An action by An Taisce to prevent the sale of seven gasoliers (gas-lit chandeliers) and an organ at an auction of the contents of Lissadell House, Co Sligo has been resolved, the High Court was told yesterday.
Last week, An Taisce was given leave by the High Court to notify the former owner Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth that it would be bringing an application before the court yesterday to prevent the removal of the gasoliers and organ.
Sir Josslyn has sold the house to Mr Edward Walsh SC and his wife, Ms Constance Cassidy SC, for €3.5 million and the contents are to be sold by auction today .
When the case came before Mr Justice Quirke yesterday, he was told the issues at the centre of the legal dispute had been resolved. The gasoliers and organ had now been sold to the new owners of the house and would not be removed. In the light of that, the only outstanding issue was one of costs. By consent, the judge adjourned the costs issue for two weeks.
An Taisce had claimed the items included fixtures and fittings which were integral to the character of the house. Their application was taken under the Planning and Development Act, 2000 to restrain "an apprehended unauthorised development" which was the removal of elements of Lissadell House, a protected structure.
Mr Ian Lumley, An Taisce's heritage officer, in an affidavit, said Lissadell House was believed to have been the first house lit by gaslight in Ireland. The pipework for the gas system was integrated into the house design. The gasoliers were of Grecian design and fitted into the pipe system.