The Irish Times

An Taisce has leapt to the defence of Cork County Hall, the State's tallest building, saying its architectural quality and integrity would be lost if a proposed renovations were permitted. The trust, usually associated with historic buildings, is among the appellants against Cork Corporation's decision to grant permission for the refurbishment and extension of the 1960s building. The County Hall, designed by Mr Patrick McSweeney, then Cork county architect, is the only post-1940 building in the city listed for protection in the corporation's 1998 development plan. It is, therefore, a "protected structure" under the Planning Acts.