Sir, - As the Irish member of the 15 person European Commission Jury on European Architectural Heritage, and consequently the person largely responsible for securing a grant for the restoration of St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny, I was extremely upset to read the letter from Professor Roger Stalley of TCD (September 3rd). Although Professor Stalley is not an architect, he is an art historian whose views and opinions should be taken seriously.
This grant was awarded by the 1995 jury on the theme "Religious Monuments", for which only 123 projects were awarded grants out of 2,215 applications - the largest number of applications ever received by the commission. St Canice's was therefore one of the very few lucky ones.
In making a grant offer, the commission expects recipients to retain the best available professional advice from people possessing all the skills and knowledge appropriate to the project. No other consideration should influence the making of such appointments.
If the work carried out to St Canice's was as bad as Professor Stalley suggests, I am sure the commission would be extremely upset with, perhaps, serious consequences for the church authorities. I have written to the Dean of St Canice's asking for a full report on the work carried out and the professional advisers retained. If Professor Stalley's fears are confirmed, then in my view the work should stop immediately before any further damage is done, and a panel of experts should be assembled, to direct the remainder of the restoration. Yours, etc.,
Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.