Irish preservation law fight

As a city so old that construction crews regularly unearth medieval, and even Viking, artifacts, Dublin has surprisingly few examples of significant architecture. For many years, the Irish only made things worse by allowing the ruthless demolition of buildings that were perceived to be leftovers of British rule.

Now, an effort at preservation has pitted one of Ireland's most powerful businessmen against both the Dublin government and the national planning authority, in a legal battle over the interior of a house practically on the steps of the prime minister's offices. . .

Most people here agree there was a need for the laws. But critics say the legislation threatens to halt the typical evolution of buildings by freezing significant structures in the past rather than letting them be used.

Posted by David on April 12, 2003 4:18 PM