Sir, – I would like to add my voice to that of Robert Ballagh (July 21st) regarding the denial of access to key sites of our literary heritage. I refer in particular to the Joyce Tower in Sandycove which is open only by arrangement, and which is, I gather, the subject of ongoing discussions between Fáilte Ireland and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. It is unlikely that these discussions will have concluded in any satisfactory way before the end of the tourist (ie fáilte) season.
On a recent visit it was noticeable that the physical environment within the tower was not being maintained in a way that will protect the rare and vulnerable exhibits. This was evident in the containers catching drips from the roof in the famous bedroom area. I hope someone is emptying them! Joyce would not have been surprised. – Yours, etc,