MAYOR OF Limerick John Gilligan has urged Limerick City Council to take advantage of the slump in property prices and buy the €1.4 million home of late writer Kate O’Brien.
Mr Gilligan was speaking at the launch of the annual Kate O’Brien literary weekend, when he urged the local authority to protect the writer’s childhood home, Boru House on Mulgrave Street in the city.
The property has been up for sale for a number of years with a €1.4 million price tag but has fallen into disrepair and has been boarded up by the council following acts of vandalism.
“Property prices are falling, we have to recognise that, and if we’re going buying property, now is the time to do it. We will soon be short of a library in the city and there is a huge courtyard behind Boru House suitable for development which could fit in and be sympathetic to the old house,” said the mayor.
Mr Gilligan said he is “very saddened to see the condition of Kate O’Brien’s house”, which he described as one of the most historic houses in Limerick.
The massive 36,023sq ft property on Mulgrave Street, which is being sold by de Courcy estate agents, includes seven bedrooms and four additional rooms in the attic. The property is owned by the Lloyd family.
The Kate O’Brien weekend will run from February 27th to March 1st and will feature readings from influential literary figures in the city’s Circuit Court building at Merchant’s Quay.
This year’s theme is to celebrate Irish writing in honour of the famous Limerick author, and participating writers include John Banville, Lia Mills, Dermot Bolger and Glenn Patterson.
“This year the committee members really made a special effort to get a good calibre of writer to celebrate the weekend,” said Sheila Deegan, arts officer with the council.
A book entitled Faithful Companions, featuring the personal memories of people who have celebrated the weekend over the last 25 years, will be published in advance of the weekend and is edited by local writer Mary Coll.
For an updated list of all events log on to www.kobweekend.com.