Sir, - In response to the letter (October 26th) regarding the proposed conversion of the Royal/ Real Tennis Court on Earlsfort Terrace to a second recital hall for the National Concert Hall, the Music Association of Ireland would like to clarify a number of issues.
The uniqueness and importance of this building is completely recognised by the OPW, the National Concert Hall and by music-lovers. Far from this building being at risk of being "destroyed", plans have been submitted by the OPW, and recently approved by Dublin Corporation, for a sensitive, meticulous conservation and restoration. Plans as submitted to Dublin Corporation include provision for reversion to a tennis court. While its most suitable use now is as a music space for the National Concert Hall, little additional work would convert it to a real tennis court, should the Real Tennis Associations' claims of a worldwide revival of the game be borne out.
Currently, the National Concert Hall is bursting at the seams with upwards of 300,000 patrons per year. The current second space, the John Field Rood, is totally inadequate for the performance of music. Irish musicians urgently need a suitable second space for the development of chamber music and as a focus for the burgeoning education and outreach programme at the NCH, which will be used by tens of thousands of people a year, both audience and performers.
If EU structural funds are lost, we all stand to lose an important building and no one will gain either a music space or a tennis court. - Yours, etc., Rodney Senior,
Chairman, Music Association of Ireland, South Great George's Street, Dublin 2.