Sir, - Eibhir Mulqueen reports (June 16th), that St Cronan's Church Heritage Centre in Tuamgraney is apparently not getting enough financial support from the Government.
Mr Mulqueen tells us "A Department [Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands] spokesman said St Cronan's was in private ownership and it was policy to direct funding to monuments in State ownership or guardianship".
Perhaps St Cronan's is unfortunate to be located in the "Cinderella" territory of east Clare. In Donegal north-east, there appears to be no compunction about giving public money to a privately-owned heritage centre. The Grianan of Ailigh "heritage centre" in Burt, Co Donegal is a privately owned bar and restaurant and has already been sponsored to the tune of £140,000 by the International Fund for Ireland and is approved for receipt of £250,000 from INTERREG and another £100,000 from the IFI. All this despite an advertised intention to cut down the largely native Burt Woods to build houses in it.
Maybe if St Cronan's got involved in some environmental destruction they might get more public money. - Yours, etc.,
Michael McGuire, Burnfoot, Co Donegal.