Lissadell House
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lissadell House is a large country house, located in County Sligo, Ireland.
The house was built in the 1830s for Sir Robert Gore-Booth MP by London architect Frances Goodwin. In 1876, Sir Robert left the house and surrounding estate to his son, Sir Henry Gore-Booth.
The house was the childhood home of Irish revolutionary, Constance Gore-Booth, her sister the poet and suffragist, Eva Gore-Booth, and their siblings, Mabel Gore-Booth, Mordaunt Gore-Booth and Josslyn Gore-Booth. It was also the sometime holiday retreat of the world-renowned poet, William Butler Yeats.
In 2003, the house was put up for sale by the then owner, Sir Josslyn Gore-Booth (a nephew of the original Josslyn Gore-Booth), for an inconcievably low sum of €3 million. Despite celebrities including U2 lead singer Bono showing an interest in the property, it was hoped that it would be purchased by the state. However, due to several stumbling blocks including Dáil (Government) holidays and an inaccurate cost report, the house was eventually sold to a private couple, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy.
Since then, there have been several disputes between locals and the new owners regarding access rights to the lands. Locals who had become accustomed to almost unlimited freedom to move about the estate, have seen restrictions come into place because of the new owners' family and small children. The new owners have, however, sought to restore the house and open the house and grounds to the public for part of the year.
The new owners came to the area with an attitude reminisent of a by-gone era. They came to town with promises they have not kept to the local community. Lissadell house recalls many sad memories for the local community when they were indentured servants of the Gore Booth family, and see the right of way through the estate as thier rightfull inheritance for putting up with such hardship in the past. Take that away and it will be another slap in the face.
The new owners are indeed that, the new owners. When you buy a historic building for really cheap, there is an assumption that you are aware of the history and are commited to ensuring that th epurchase works for both yourself and thoses that live around it. The new owners have failed so far. We can only hope for more.
