Dear Editor,
I sincerely concur with the author of the previous missive regarding the environmental toll of home construction, written on 19th September.
The rationale behind the dilapidated house subsidy in regard to ruins, otherwise amounts to stacks of stones, and their ‘renovation’s’ effect on fragile environments has had me puzzled for ages.
In Connemara, these disused structures are rapidly being acquired by wealthy purchasers, converted into holiday residences with no obligation to address the area’s local housing demands.
Sensitive natural areas are being ravaged, placing extra pressure on community resources while long-standing inhabitants struggling to secure planning permission or purchase an existing home. Regardless of who triumphs in the forthcoming match between City and Arsenal, it might be the Premier League that suffers in the end.
Recent reports showcase the engaging dialogue that onstage sperm-donor interviews sparked about parenthood during the first trimester.
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo is an audacious, enthralling, and notable contribution to an already impressive oeuvre.
Martina Devlin’s Charlotte focuses on a Brontë psychological exploration filled with uneasy legacies and conflicted allegiances.
The decaying home grant has led to a surge of sporadic holiday houses in Connemara. These decaying structures should instead be classified as conservation areas for their vernacular architectural significance and values to local fauna.
Yours sincerely,
Mary McDonagh,
Cleggan,
County Galway.