Sir, - In fairness to our clients and, indeed, to Wicklow County Council, we feel we must respond to Kevin Myers's "Irishman's Diary" (April 26th), re demolishing a building at Ballyknockan.
When we examined Laurel Lodge in 1994, we found it to be virtually uninhabitable, being used only for occasional overnighting by the youth club. The building was hopelessly beyond repair with extensive rising damp and both wet and dry rot. The decision to demolish the building was not taken lightly and only after developing a strategy for retaining the major stone elements of the original building for re use in the new building, this strategy was fully accepted by the planning authority in granting permission for the development. The new facade will be very similar to the original facade with granite based rendering, stone dressings, stone entrance porch and bay window, these elements being carefully retained from the old building. Contrary to Mr Myers's assertions, the stonework was carefully removed, numbered and photographed and is presently being restored for re use.
The planning permission newspaper advertisement was placed in English, twice in fact, and certainly not in Irish as Mr Myers suggests. The project was discussed openly with many of the locals and there was certainly no attempt at secrecy as Mr Myers suggests.
The true picture with regard to Laurel Lodge is that of an entirely voluntary organisation transforming a semi derelict property into a much needed facility for young people. The resulting building will contribute in a careful and considered way to the architectural character of the village. - Yours, etc.,
For Deaton Lysaght,
Architects,
Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6.