Madam, - While we were delighted by Brian O'Connell's fulsome tribute to James Hoban (An Irishman's Diary, September 4th), we must correct some of his information regarding forthcoming events.
The event scheduled for later this month (Friday, September 29th) is a one-day symposium organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government at Kilkenny Castle. It will feature speakers from Ireland and America, including William Seale, the leading authority on the White House.
The symposium will be part of a programme which also features consultations, briefings and site visits in Kilkenny, Desart and Dublin organised by the James Hoban Societies of the US and Ireland. This is aimed at increasing awareness of Hoban's background and Irish connections in advance of the commemoration proper, which runs from late 2006 to 2008.
The proposed memorial arbour mentioned by Brian O'Connell is still at design stage, based on concepts prepared by the Office of Public Works, and is subject to further local negotiations and planning before commissioning and hoped-for completion in 2008.
In addition to the proposed book on Hoban, the White House Historical Association has agreed to mount a major exhibition on his life at the White House Visitors' Center, and to donate the exhibit to an Irish venue afterwards.
There are some other small errors of historic and contemporary fact in the piece, but one merits immediate correction: the initiative for the commemoration, and the cheque for $2500, came from the James Hoban Society of Charleston SC, where Hoban lived for five years following his arrival from Philadelphia in 1787.
We look forward to welcoming all those interested in this fascinating example of Irish-American interaction to Kilkenny later this month. Invitation/information packs can be obtained by contacting me at bergcom@eircom.net or on 086-156-8916. - Yours, etc,
DENIS BERGIN, International Programme Co-ordinator, James Hoban Commemoration, The Old Courthouse, Callan, Co Kilkenny.