Republican News · Thursday 14 August 2003

Lissadell House sold privately

Sinn Féin's Mayor of Sligo, Sean MacManus, has expressed extreme disappointment at the failure of the government to purchase Lissadell House and Estate, which is closely associated with Irish patriot Constance Markievicz.

MacManus, who is Chairperson of the Lissadell Action Group, expressed extreme disappointment at the failure of the government to purchase the historic property.

Lissadell House is one of Ireland's most historic stately homes and is featured in a poem by W B Yeats. The Gore-Booths have lived in the house since it was built around 170 years ago. The house was the childhood home of Constance Gore-Booth, who in later years, as Countess Markievicz, was a leader of the 1916 Rising and was closely connected with the leaders of the struggle for independence and became the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons. After refusing to take her seat as the first woman MP at Westminster, she later sat as a member of the first Dáil.

The house and estate has now been sold privately to an unnamed Irish couple. It had been hoped that the government would buy the famous house for the State but no specific offer was made.

In the end, owner Sir Josslynn Gore-Booth decided he had waited long enough and confirmed the house sale on Monday. At the end of May, Gore-Booth said that he would be prepared to sell the house to the State for €3 million. Given its potential as a major tourist attraction, it was hoped that the government would buy it. Environment Minister Martin Cullen commissioned a report which suggested that the overall cost to the State of purchasing Lissadell and refurbishing it as a major visitor attraction would cost in the region of €28 million.

"I am deeply disappointed that this historic property, so closely associated with a heroine of 1916, Constance Markievicz, is to remain in private ownership," said MacManus. "The failure of the government to purchase Lissadell is truly regretful and is a clear snub to the wishes of the Irish people.

"Instead, we have witnessed a process of prevarication over the last four months, which must lead to questions as to the government's interest in this unique historical and cultural property. When they introduced the astronomical figure of €30 million as possible total expenditure it became clear that they had no real interest in buying Lissadell.

"We in the Lissadell Action Group have always expressed the view that the prime requirement was to purchase the estate and that improvements, if required, could be carried out over a period of years. It is an undisputed fact that the asking price for the house, 400-acre estate and contents was approx €4.5 million. This is the real figure, not €30 million.

"Sligo County Council indicated their willingness to become involved with the house, along with other statutory bodies, and said that grants could have been obtained towards running and remedial costs if needed.

"Despite these facts, the government refused to act. If this property were located in the eastern region there would have been a different government reaction - Farmleigh House has to date cost the taxpayer €100 million.

"The government's failure to secure Lissadell is indicative of their ongoing failure to deliver to this region. The anger generated by this decision will not be placated by pious platitudes and mutterings about financial constraints."

MacManus said that although it was "poor second choice", the focus would now be on trying to bring some influence to bear on the new owners.