Markievicz home struck by vandals
"SIGNIFICANT" damage has been done to the ancestral home of Countess Markievicz by vandals. Three separate entrances to the estate were targetted in the attacks.
The lawyer owners of Lissadell House in Sligo, - the subject of a protracted right-of-way dispute since its purchase two years ago - said they will now review security.
Gardai are investigating the incident in which high powered equipment was used to remove the main entrance gate and two 18 foot long barriers which were then dumped in a river and wood.
Slogans declaring that the roads had been rights-of-way for over 100 years were also sprayed at the scenes.
Owners, Eddie Walsh and Constance Cassidy who welcomed over 1,000 visitors to the estate yesterday for the second open day in less than two months, expressed concern at what had happened.
"This was a deliberate, well-organised and planned incident. We had 11 children and eight adults in the house last night in preparation for the Open Day and anything could have happened, said Eddie Walsh.
"We will have to look at our weekend arrangements at the house and the children have already been instructed not to go off exploring on their own.
"Someone has set out to intimidate us and if they are going to do it in a criminal way, you do not know what else they would consider," he said.
The damage, estimated to be in the region of €5,000, was discovered by Eddie and his 12-year-old son Harry at 7am yesterday. A heavy wrought iron gate at the main entrance was cut from its hinges, carried 20 yards and dumped in nearby woodland.
Angle grinders, a chainsaw and drill were believed to have also been used to remove two 18 foot long barriers by two further entrances to the 400 acre property. One of the barriers was found at the bottom of a nearby river.
The owners, who have seven children, have been locked in a dispute with a small group of local people over their decision to close off some of the entrances to the estate at night.
According to Eddie Walsh, this decision was taken for "security and safety reasons, mainly to prevent 'joy-riders' driving through at high speeds and endangering the lives of their children but he stressed that they had never tried to close off access to a popular beach.
But locals claimed they were being deprived of a right they had enjoyed for more than 100 years.
Just last week, campaigners in the Lissadell Action Group submitted documents to Sligo County Council which, they claim, supports their argument that the public has a traditional right of way. A spokesperson for the group said: "There is no way we would condone the vandalism."
The couple paid €3.75m for Lissadell and spent another €800,000 on some if its furniture and fittings two years ago. The couple have also carried out extensive work on the grounds of the estate restoring the gardens.
Irish Independent 17/10/2005
Anita Guidera