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Sat 07 Jul 2007Building over our heritageA new series of county-based books laments the decline of our rich architectural heritage - and says much about the changing nature of Ireland, writes Gemma Tipton.You probably know a bit about the great houses, castles, round towers and stone cottages that dot the Irish countryside, but what do you know about the sweat houses of Co Leitrim and the mud houses of Co Westmeath? And what about our art-deco cinemas, horseshoe forges, follies, ice houses, lime kilns, tin churches and exotic gate lodges? You might not know that a spit of land in Co Roscommon houses a deserted medieval town, including a castle, a harbour, two churches and a windmill.