§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether 833 he has yet received the report of Sir Thomas Deane on the subject of the restoration of the ruins of the ancient Cathedral of St. Mel, at Ardagh, county Longford, and will the Board of Works undertake their preservation?
§ MR. HANBURYThis ruin (St. Mel) is vested in the Church representative body, and the Board of Works have under existing circumstances no power to undertake any work in respect of it. They have caused it to be inspected by Sir Thomas Deane, who reports that no vestages of architectural detail remain, and that nothing is left but the walls, the remains of which are in no place more than about 6ft. high, and in most places much less. The only work of preservation possible would be confined to the maintenance of the wall and the removal of weeds therefrom. The question whether the Board would be justified in taking steps for the vesting of the ruin in them will be considered at the next meeting of the Board and the Consultative Committee of the Royal Irish Academy and Royal Society of Antiquaries.