Sir, - As one of those campaigning to save Riversdale - the last home of W.B. Yeats - and its grounds from a developer's proposal to demolish the house and erect 28 apartments in its place, I regularly visit the planning department of South Dublin County Council to check the objections pouring in. Scores of them have come, not only from Ireland, but from England, Scotland, the US, Australia and particularly Japan - all sent by admirers of the poetry, drama and theatre that Yeats and Lady Gregory gave us. They express horror that the Celtic Tiger is so voracious, so predatory.
One objection I failed to find. Surely, I thought to myself, there must be some oversight on my part. But then it struck me that of course the national subsidised theatre, the Abbey, would have privately approached the Minister for Arts, Heritage etc. to show, at least, that it remembered its founder.
Just to be reassured that in this case eaten bread was not forgotten, individual letters to the chairman and the other eight directors were written, addressed, and handed in to an official at the theatre, requesting politely the public support which our campaign needs.
Weeks have elapsed and I have not had as much as one acknowledgement. No wonder I seem to hear now and then the shade of a great man murmuring, "You have disgraced yourselves again."
In the meantime South Dublin County Council has granted permission to the developer to build somewhat fewer apartment blocks than he had proposed. We campaigners must now resort to An Bord Pleanala, located in Lower Abbey Street, about 100 yards from the Abbey. - Yours, etc.,
Sean Mullarney, Whitechurch Road, Dublin 14.