Possible funding works to remedy old church in Kilfinane
The ruins of the church in the old cemetery in Kilfinane is being considered for funding to improve the structural integrity of the building. According to local historian James O’Brien, each storm is further damaging the structure, and “if they don’t do something soon, they’ll have to level it off altogether.”
The church, which is across the road from St Andrew’s Church, is being considered under the 2022 Community Monuments Funding Scheme to consolidate the structure, and if successful, the funding will improve the church and ‘allow unlimited access to the building and create a heritage amenity within the graveyard’, according to Cllr PJ Carey.
The issue was raised by the councillor at a meeting of the Kilmallock-Cappamore Municipal District recently. He stated that an original structural report on the ruin was commissioned back in 2015. Acknowledging that the project will be an expensive one, the good news is that if funding is indeed approved, works must be completed by the end of November 2022, thus ensuring a fast project.
According to Cllr Carey, the graveyard is in the ownership of Limerick City and County Council, but the church is owned by the Representative Church Body of the Church of lreland. The site is ‘particularly awkward’ to access for works and ‘these projects are very expensive.’
“I had e-mailed the council a few months back asking would the Community Monuments Fund be a possible way of raising funds and it is good to see this happening. Hopefully this will be the start of us reclaiming what is a beautiful amenity in our town, and all going well, we will see our application successful and work begin this year.”
In his query to the council, Cllr Carey asked about safety works, as well as a request for a permanent support, the west wall of the church being propped up, and the remaining openings of the church closed off.