asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the fact that Blessed Oliver Plunkett is being canonised this year, he will consider taking over the Plunkett family house at Loughcrew, County Westmeath, where Blessed Oliver spent his early years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Plunkett Family House.
12.
Mr. Kenny
The Commissioners of Public Works have no positive information in regard to the identity of the house referred to by the Deputy. If such information was furnished to them, the commissioners would examine the proposal.
The house he stayed in at Loughcrew is well known. The owner of the land has offered an acre as a car park beside it and the local people are trying to renovate the house. The Parliamentary Secretary should be taking steps to declare this a national monument.
Mr. Kenny
The Deputy should send in whatever information he has at his disposal and this information should be authentic. The commissioners would then examine it and act upon it. There are two accounts given here. One is from the Shell guide and the other is from the records of the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society. It appears that there is a clash of opinion as to where Blessed Oliver was born or where he stayed.
It is well known locally.
We are having statements rather than questions.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the local authority are helping with an amenity grant from last year in this matter? We believed it should be declared a national monument and the Office of Public Works would be the obvious body to take it over.
Mr. Kenny
If the Deputy sends some positive information to the Office of Public Works, it will be acted upon.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary regard that as a theological or a geographical question?
Mr. Kenny
There were supposed to be an awful lot of St. Patricks as well. It is the same thing. Blessed Oliver could have stayed in many places. The Plunkett family came from Loughcrew but there are a number of complications.
Can the Office of Public Works not give an authoritative decision on this?
Mr. Kenny
I doubt if they can. One must find out first of all where this man was born, his parentage, heritage and everything like that. That is what we want to get and if the Deputy sends it in we will act on it.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider consulting his Minister with a view to sending a number of Members of this House to the canonisation?
Mr. Kenny
That is another question.