Sir, - Thanks to your editorial "Riddle of the Asgard" (October 13th), the cause of Asgard is now clearly before the Irish public.
Some questions immediately arise:
What will the coast of conservation by the State be against the "no cost to the taxpayer" restoration as envisaged by the Asgard Restoration Project Ltd?
Will not the very act of conservation, through the introduction into Asgard's original and sound timbers of chemicals, waxes, etc, not have the effect of killing off the fibres of those timbers and so destroying her as a living thing? We have reason to believe it will.
Does the Department of Defence agree that conserving Asgard as she now lies in Kilmainham Jail is merely to preserve for posterity the vessel as she was as a sail training vessel for a fraction of her distinguished life?
Finally, will the Department please emerge from its cosy silence and let us know what precisely it wants to conserve? - Yours, etc.,
PRO, Asgard Restoration Project Ltd, Killiney, Co Dublin.