Mountbatten move on Lissadell estate

Lord Louis Mountbatten and Constance Markievicz's niece, Aideen Gore-Booth, both wrote to taoiseach Liam Cosgrave seeking his help in saving Lissadell estate, Co Sligo, in the 1970s. The last of the Gore-Booths left Lissadell in 2003.

Problems emerged after Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth died in 1944 and the estate passed to his son Michael, who had mental health problems. He was made a ward of court and officials were appointed to manage the estate on his behalf. Some siblings, including Aideen, continued to live there. However, lengthy legal wrangles ensued over the way the estate was being managed.

When Michael died, the estate passed to Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth, who sold it four years ago. The estate has since undergone significant renovation.

Things were bleaker in November 1976, when Aideen Gore-Booth appealed to Cosgrave. She wrote of the "many staggering hammer blows" she and her family had suffered "arising out of the fortunes, or misfortunes of my brother's estate". But an upcoming High Court action would eclipse all the other blows, she said. "I am sure Mr Cosgrave you will realise how desperate and grief stricken I am seeing my brother's estate about to be finally washed down the drain when he is incapable of helping himself . . ." she wrote.

"No doubt you are aware that Countess Markievicz was my Aunt to whom a Statute [sic] has been erected in Dublin. If that is the esteem in which she is held by the Nation, surely the leaders of the State will now intervene?"

In a letter to the taoiseach in 1974, Lord Mountbatten said he was "really thrilled to find that you were taking a personal interest in the Gore-Booth family's troubles over Lissadell", and asked that the family be consulted on the appointment of a person to manage the estate on behalf of the court.

Attorney general Declan Costello advised Mr Cosgrave that "it would be proper to point out to her [Aideen Gore-Booth] that you are not in a position to interfere in any way with the management of the estate and that this is a matter for the High Court".