Sir, - On my recent and first visit to Dublin and Ireland I enjoyed it very much, but was saddened by the infill developments among beautiful Georgian houses. It was disappointing to see one of the most important houses in literature, No. 15 Usher's Island on the quays (the setting of the short story The Dead by James Joyce), being allowed to decay.
Is it not possible in your country - which, like Finland, is now part of the European Union - to arrange for the State to buy and preserve this most important house, which will contribute in future to your thriving tourist industry? - Yours, etc.,
Paarynipolku 5,
SF-02710 Espoo, Finland.