HL Deb 24 July 1876 vol 230 cc1766-7
LORD TALBOT DE MALAHIDE

asked the Lord President of the Council, Why certain ancient buildings in Ireland are not made national monuments under the provisions of Section 25 of the Irish Church Act, particularly as regarded the churches and round towers of Holy Island and Scattery Island on the Shannon, of Kilmacduagh, Clones, Pertagh, Killishin, Ullard, Tullow, Kilree, the ancient churches of the Isles of Arran, and many others? The noble Lord stated that there was in Ireland a very strong feeling in favour of the preservation of those monuments, in which he cordially participated.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said, he had received a communication from the Irish Church Commissioners on the subject of the noble Lord's Question. The section of the Irish Church Act to which he referred provided that any ruinous ecclesiastical building which it might appear to the Commissioners desirable to preserve as a national monument might be vested in the Board of Works in Ireland; and they had accordingly so handed over a number of ecclesiastical buildings to the Board of Works, together with a sum of £22,554 to place those structures in a proper condition to resist the action of the weather and to preserve them from decay. The Commissioners had applications made to them from every part of Ireland in favour of a great number of ruins the owners of which were desirous should be preserved at the public expense; but they thought it right, having regard to the large sum of money they had already given, that they should act with great caution in taking upon themselves the preservation of other ruins. They added that any communications with respect to such ruins should receive their best consideration.

LORD TALBOT DE MALAHIDE

explained that all that was wanted was that there should be sufficient expenditure to prevent the ruins from getting into a worse state—and particularly they wished to guard against anything like restoration.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

said, the Government had nothing to do with the matter, which rested entirely with the Irish Church Commissioners.