Sir, - As a native of Carlow, brought up within sight of the town's Court House, I have been saddened by the proposals for the development of the site. Carlow does not possess a great number of buildings of architectural merit, and the Court House is the only example that comes to mind of a public building that remains as its architect created it. The railing are an integral part of the visual whole of the building, embracing like a pair of hands the structure set as it is on its imposing pedestal.
The current proposals to cut away and resite parts of the railings are inappropriate and probably unworkable. They entail cutting out the granite base, removing railings and reconstructing them using the old materials and some new materials. The railings are old and unlikely to be removed without destroying them. The new granite is going to look just that, new without the patina of age.
We cannot expect a building created in another age to continue to serve us for the next century without adapting it radically. To ensure that the Court House can provide a structure appropriate to current and future needs in terms of space, comfort and security and I would propose a new building, constructed to current specifications on a new site. This would release the court house to become Carlow's visitor or arts centre for the new millennium. - Yours, etc.,
Oliver J. Murray,
Roman Way,
Enfield,
Co Meath.