The Irish Times

The widespread tendency in this country to place a high value on heritage sites has meant these places can often assume an disproportionately sacrosanct character. A secondary result is that any alteration to the place in question will be perceived as an assault on its integrity. That this need not always be the case is shown by the ofarestoration and building programme completed at Turlough Park in Co Mayo, which recently won a Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) regional award in the Western region (over £2 million category). Designed to accommodate the State's Irish Folklife Museum - part of the National Museum's collection -it is an example of the addition being superior to the original structure.