IF reaction within Ireland matched international interest in plans to restore a once magnificent Georgian house overlooking Lough Carra, then work on a £3.8 million project would already be in progress at a frenetic pace.
Next year is the 200th anniversary of 1798, and if the same interest was shown here as elsewhere, Connacht would be honouring the appointment of its first president! For in that year John Moore was appointed "President of the Connaught Republic" by General Humbert, head of a welcome invading force from France. His term of office was short but significant in the movement towards a free Ireland.
The building in question is Moore Hall, his former home, built in 1792 to the design of architect John Roberts. Only its shell remains after a fire in 1923. It was torched, apparently, at the behest of de Valera who did not want it used as Free State army barracks.
A community group from the small rural parish of Carnacon has drawn up a plan with help of development bodies in Mayo, notably Lake District Enterprise in Ballinrobe. And while the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, and the Minister for Tourism, Mr Kenny, were impressed when briefed a year ago, it still has not been sanctioned as a viable tourism project. This sanction, and money, is needed to kick start the venture.
The Department of Tourism indicated within the past week, however, that it intends to meet the Moore Hall Restoration Committee soon.
That has fuelled renewed hope. The chairman, Art O'Sullivan, who is also principal of Cornacon National School, thinks that those who do not know what's involved in the project may consider it the vague hope of a remote community, impractical and too far from the tourism honeypots of Westport, Galway and Connemara.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Moore Hall's immense significance in the cultural and political history of Ireland extends over 200 years. Equally, the plan is costed and phased, depending on what funds can be secured. It incorporates a broad range of visitor attractions in an enchanting location that is neither booming with tourists nor overcrowded as some more obvious places have become.
The group is bringing its message using the most advanced multimedia, computer based technology to the world. Moore Hall is a large website on the Internet that is as easily accessed from California or Sydney.
A click of a computer mouse and you are at the beginning of a fascinating tour of the building, seeing and listening to the curlews that frequent the area, or observing its colony of long eared horseshoe bats. Then there are the wild orchids on Carra's shoreline, much of which has a Burren like limestone base.
Those responsible for the web site are the senior pupils of Carnacon NS. The project is a fascinating educational adventure for them. They talk their way through what will soon be a virtual walk around Moore Hall sitting at a terminal in their classroom, perfectly at home with the technology and the computerspeak.
We are very heartened by the international interest. Our web site has evoked a lot of response, including some major donations," Art says. "There's a body of goodwill out there which we were delighted to meet."
The Moore family tree includes George Henry Moore, politician and racing buff who pulled off a betting coup in 1846 winning £17,000 after his horse, Coranna, won the Chester Gold Cup. Much of his winnings was used to buy a cow and grain for each of his tenants during the Famine. An MP for Mayo, Moore was a rare defender of tenants' rights.
In the late 19th century George Augustus Moore became a distinguished writer; a friend of Zola and French impressionist painters, and ambassador of the Irish literary revival. His son was Senator Colonel Maurice Moore, the statesman of the family. He served with the Connaught Rangers in the Boer War and was a defender of human rights. He is credited by many as the founder of the Irish Volunteers, and was appointed by the first Dail as the State's first envoy to South Africa.
THE restoration group feels strongly that Ireland needs to acknowledge the Moores' part in its turbulent and emerging history;
"We are too small to do it on our own, Art adds, "But we know it will benefit the whole region. It does not require huge money, as EU tourism funds could cover 75 per cent of the costs."
If Moore Hall is to live again and there is, at least, a commitment to implement the project over a number of years, the group believes Mayo and Ireland will have taken a great step towards commemoration of 1798 and the Year of the French in a most fitting manner.