Lissadell owner may not wait for public-private bid

Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth has said he hopes to sell Lissadell House, Co Sligo by the end of the summer, whether or not the State has secured a public-private partnership to buy it.

Sir Josslyn, the owner of the childhood home of Countess Markievicz and her poet sister Eva Gore-Booth, last night confirmed that he was considering "several offers and expressions of interest" from private bidders.

"I hope to be in a position, and am planning to complete the sale by the end of the summer."

This follows last week's Government decision to rule out the outright purchase of the house because it would be too costly to restore and maintain.

The house and its adjoining 400 acres of parkland had been valued last month at €3.75 million, with the contents estimated at €1 million.

However, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, told the Cabinet last week that his officials had estimated the overall cost of acquiring and repairing the property to be in the region of €26 million to €30 million.

The Government is now seeking a partner from the voluntary or private sector to co-fund the purchase. However, Sir Josslyn has indicated that he may not be able to wait for Mr Cullen to secure a deal.

"We have to find somewhere else to live. If the Government has a partnership deal it should be disclosed without further ado to my advisors."

He added that the figure of €30 million to purchase and run the house needed "serious explanation".

Sources in the Department of the Environment have said that the immediate cost of repair and conservation would be €9.6 million.

Similar work required in 2005/2007 would cost €8.3 million, while expenditure of an additional €8.5 million would be required in 2007/2009. Additional money would be required for professional fees and VAT, the sources said.

The Government has been under pressure from heritage and historical organisations to buy the property. The groups have emphasised the historical role of Mr Gore-Booth's great-aunts, Countess Markievicz Eva Gore-Booth, and the links with the poet WB Yeats.

Mr Damian Cassidy, chairperson of the Save Lissadell House All-Party Committee, said Mr Cullen had "side-stepped" the purchase of the house by introducing the €30 million figure.

"The Government must act immediately to retain this significant piece of state heritage. They will not be forgiven, particularly by Irish women, since Countess Markievicz's involvement in the War of Independence and women's suffrage remains today a powerful inspiration for women's rights."