Sir, - John Ducie's letter of April 10th, and the heartfelt plea of Terence Reeves-Smyth (May 12th) on the despoliation of Carton underline the urgent need to list Ireland's historic man-made landscapes and gardens.
This is becoming even more vital as the Roads Authority appears to have little or no professional conservation advice. At the moment we see the horrifying threat from a proposed road route to Mount Congreve garden, Co Waterford, which boasts one of Europe's prime collection of plants. Among others, the estate of Ardbraccan, Co Meath, one of Ireland's most important Palladian houses, is also threatened.
The Irish Georgian Society and An Taisce's rejuvenated garden committee are extremely concerned. We feel the Government should take notice of the frightening erosion of our architectural landscape inheritance, occurring under the guise of what can only be called "dubious" progress. - Yours, etc.,
Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, Irish Georgian Society, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.