Cork lucky to have over 3,000 protected strutures
The County of Cork is lucky to possess over 3,000 protected structures, which include bridges, mansions, shop fronts, post offices, gate lodges and buildings dating from the 1500s to the 1990s.
A protected structure is a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical perspective. This really does allow for a wide variety of structure types and the Cork County Development Plan reflects this well.
Protected Structures (formerly known as Listed Buildings until the 2000 Planning and Development Act) are listed in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) and the RPS for Cork is available to view via www.corkcocodevplan.com.
Each owner/occupier must ensure that a protected structure is kept in good condition and not endangered through harm, decay or damage. In general, if a structure is maintained in a habitable condition and routine maintenance is carried out (e.g., cleaning out gutters, repair of slipped slates, etc.), it should not become endangered. In order to assist owners, there are a variety of built heritage schemes that can be availed of, such as the 2017 Built Heritage Investment and Structures at Risk Schemes (open for applications until February 24th) and the Irish Georgian Society Grant, which closes on February 28th. For owner occupiers of thatched cottages there is also a specific thatching grant that can be availed of, with up to almost €4,000 available through the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Development.
Another incentive for owners of protected structures relates to Section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. Under this section of the Act, owners are entitled to tax relief to ensure the appropriate repair, maintenance and restoration of such properties. ‘A condition of the scheme is that the property is required to be open to the public for a minimum number of days each year, or in use as a registered guest house’.
Many of these historic buildings are made publicly accessible during Heritage Week each year; a great time to get a sense of the wonderful architectural heritage that County possesses; with Heritage Week 2017 taking place between August 19th and 27th.
The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has recently announced that the tax relief scheme for protected structures is being reviewed, both by the said Department and the Department of Finance, with support from the Revenue Commissioners. Interested parties are invited to make submissions as part of this review with a closing date of 24 March 2017.
In relation to the existing incentive the Minister has noted: “This scheme offers important tax relief to owners of historic buildings, and helps to maintain our stock of heritage properties. As set out in the Historic House Action Plan, we are now carrying out a review of this scheme to consider its effectiveness and I would encourage anyone with an interest in this area to make a submission to my department.”
A significant proportion of County Cork’s historic building stock relates to dwellings and many of these were mentioned in a recent Cork County Council publication – Heritage Houses of County Cork. Instrumental to this publication was Dr. Elena O’Brien Turk of Bluebrick Heritage, and on Saturday 25th February in the Ballygarvan Community Centre, commencing at 8pm, Elena will give a wonderful talk on the history of the home in the County of Cork, illustrated through the use of a number of examples, big, small and all else in between. The talk has been organised by the Ballygarvan Local History Society and all are welcome to attend. Admission is €5 to cover costs on the night.
On Thursday 23rd February, there will be a talk by Martin Millerick of Cork County Council’s Heritage Unit in the Charleville E- Centre, commencing at 8pm. In his talk Martin will look at the history of the Charleville/Ballyhea/Shandrum area as it has unfolded since 1700 and it promises to be a most interesting event. The talk has been organised by the Charleville Heritage Society and all are welcome to attend.
A few days later on Tuesday 28th February, commencing at 8pm in the Social Services Centre, Mallow, there will be a talk by Dr. Colman Ó Clabaigh who will discuss ‘Death, Ghosts & the Afterlife in Late Medieval Ireland’. The event has been organised by the Mallow Field Club and all are welcome to attend. Admission is €3 to cover costs on the night.
Next week’s article will take a look ahead to many of the events scheduled for the month of March. A number of these events will be reflecting on the Fenian Rising of 1867, 150 years on following this important period of Irish history, and one with particular relevance to the County of Cork. Indeed, on March 2nd at 8pm in Blarney Secondary School, there will be a talk by renowned historian John Mulcahy who will provide an in-depth analysis of Fenian activities in Cork, including the gathering at Fair Hill, Cork, of close to 4,000 men who were willing to take part in the Rising. A further talk on the Fenian Rising will take place in County Hall on March 6th at 3pm, given by Martin Millerick of Cork County Council’s Heritage Unit.
There will be more on this and many further events next week.