Madam, - Take two beautiful James Gandon houses. One was lovingly restored to its former glory over many years by its owner from his own pocket. The other, was also lovingly maintained by its owner from someone's pocket, one couldn't recall whose.
One was taken into State ownership in the early 1990s for a bargain and is open to the public so all can enjoy Gandon's eye for detail, while the other was sold for €45 million to a property developer.
It will eventually be open to the public if they are paying guests of this future hotel.
One was owned by an Englishman (with no historical ties to the country) and the other was owned by an avowed nationalist and former leader of this nation. It would be funny if it wasn't so telling of Ireland. - Yours, etc,
ORLA FULLAM-SMITH, Monaloe Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.