Work carried out on the Magdalene Tower is criticised

DROGHEDA’S councillors replied to criticism levelled at the corporation about the rejuvenation of Magdalene Tower. The work was undertaken by the National Building Authority.

Councillor Jackie Murray said: ‘I am very pleased to see it has been done, the work was completed by the NBA and any faults must hang around their necks. Personally I don’t see what the difference is between sandstone and limestone windows, but I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Councillor Tommy Murphy hit out at a Drogheda Independent reader who criticised the work which had been done by Drogheda Corporation on Magdalene Tower.

But the work on the tower has been described as butchering the momument by another Corporation member, Cllr. Fergus O’Dowd.

In the letter the reader said: ‘I don’t believe that any of our councillors would welcome this work if they saw it. Perhaps they would make a point of viewing It before the next Council meeting.’

Cllr. Murphy told the Drogheda Independent that he had examined the work.

‘As far as I’m concerned the tower is far better than it has been for the last 30 years,’ he said. ‘Drogheda Corporation undertook to, not only renovate the tower, but they helped to make it safer as well,’ he said.

‘People should not criticise the work that was done. This tower will be very appealing to tourists and will help to boost the number of people coming to the area.

‘If we hadn’t taken on the job when we did, it would never have been done and it would continue to full apart over the coming years. There were stones coming off the top and it was a danger to the public. I personally think the Corporation has done a great job.’

He pointed out that the Corporation was planning to install floodlights at Magdalene Tower and he said this would also be a welcome boost.

But Cllr. Fergus O’Dowd did not defend the Corporation on the tower work, saying that he had called for the Office of Public Works to do the work.

The refurbishment was carried out by the National Building Agency at the request of the Drogheda Corporation.