The town of Mullingar has very few literary landmarks deserving international recognition, but unfortunately, this week it lost its most important one – chiefly because it was not a protected structure. Westmeath Topic has learned that Westmeath County Council placed no value whatsoever on the building. When we asked a Council official about the demolition, they said the developer was fully within his rights in demolishing the house.
The unoccupied and boarded-up bungalow at Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, built in the 1930s, it is understood, was where internationally renowned author, the late Josephine Hart, was born and reared. After having had its roof area removed before the weekend, the entire building was torn down with earth-moving equipment on Tuesday of this week, 1 September. Josephine Hart had the title of Baroness Saatchi, as wife of Maurice Saatchi.
