Sir, – In regard to recent correspondence on the subject of the future of Irish “Big Houses” can I direct Bernard O’Grady (July 11th) to the work Terry Dooley and Christopher Ridgeway had done in their recent publication: The Irish Country House: Its Past, Present and Future. Terry Dooley in particular, has for a number of years now been the driving force behind the Historic Irish Houses and Estates conference which is held annually in NUI Maynooth.
The role the big house could and can play in contributing to tourism has been discussed and highlighted in that forum by a number of bodies and people directly involved. The discussion is well under way! – Yours, etc,