Phase 1 of St Patrick’s Church restoration begins
Restoration and repair work to St Patrick's Church in Fermoy began last week as scaffolding went up on the exterior of the building, writes Katie Glavin.
The building, completed in the 1820s, requires significant refurbishment and restoration both externally and internally and last week, phase 1 of a planned programme of works got underway.
According to Fr Brian Boyle, the first of the works involved the repair of three pinnacles, specialised work which is currently being carried out by Gebel & Helling Conservation Ltd. Pinnacles are the pointed stone structures placed around the gables for decoration and phase 1 of the works include the removal, refurbishment and storage of 16 pinnacle statues and the sealing of the building.
“The first phase of work began last week, and that is the repair of the 3 pinnacles that were in danger of collapsing from or even through the roof,” Fr Boyle confirmed.
“Cracks started to appear in some of them around 30 years ago, and at the time, metal straps were put around them to hold them in place. However, our recent report on the Church building recommended a full repair and restoration of the pinnacles,” Fr Boyle added.
FUNDRAISING
In recent times, the exterior of St Patrick’s Church had sections cordoned off to ensure public safety.
Fundraising for restoration works began in 2020 when an online fundraiser was set up. At the time, O’Carroll Fitzgerald Project and Commercial Management had carried out a detailed assessment of the works required and compiled a 60+ page report, estimating a total project cost of €1.8 million.
Phase 1, which is estimated to cost approximately €1.2 million to complete, involves the largest element of the project works and also includes the re-slating and waterproofing of the roof, external stone re-pointing, repairs and replacement of sewers, drainage and guttering systems and all associated external works.
“The work is presently being carried out by a team of expert stonemasons who specialise in restoration of old buildings. They are called Gebel and Helling and their recent work includes restoration of stonework at Fota House, Belvelly Castle and on the buildings on Spike Island,” Fr Boyle said.
Fundraising is underway via the Fermoy Parish website and through an online GoFundMe page entitled ‘St. Patrick’s Church, Fermoy, Restoration’.
“Our fundraising committee recently advertised for new members and thankfully a number of people have come on board. Our first meeting of this extended committee will be on next Monday evening,” Fr Boyle said.
Online, the fundraiser appeals to the diaspora of Fermoy in all parts of the world to contribute to the careful restoration of the heritage landmark building and place of worship.
The focus of the restoration, it notes, is to retain the building’s original architectural features and be a suitable memorial to ancestors, who in the most difficult of times in history, succeeded in building the church.
FURTHER WORKS
The entire restoration entails four phases. Phase 2 consists of mechanical and electrical upgrade works and is set to cost approximately €285,000. This involves the installation of a new mains distribution board and replacing all cabling up to the current standard.
A new heating system is also to be installed bringing the Church up to date and making it more energy-efficient.
Mezzanine and organ areas are the focus of the third phase of works, estimated to cost €220,000 and include a wide-ranging scope to repair significant water ingress damage to a number of areas in the Church. This will see the repair or replacement of wooden stairs to the galleries, the investigation and repair of woodworm damaged timber floors and more.
Repairs to glass, lead and iron support bars on stained glass windows, repairs to the window reveals, plaster and more are also included in this phase.
Finally, the fourth phase will see decorations and finishes carried out at a cost of €95,000. Repairs will be made to cracking, crazing and paint flaking throughout the Church, including a complete repainting and redecorating of all walls and ceilings, as well as the removal of carpet to expose floor tiles.
All works carried out are to be supervised by an appointed Building Conservation Accredited Surveyor, the online fundraising page reads:
“The building of St.
Patrick’s Church, Fermoy, commenced in 1810 and was completed in the 1820s. Extensive improvements were made in 1867. Thankfully many of its original features survived the wave of modernization that took place in many old churches in more recent decades.
“It is our wish to bring our church back to its former glory and pass it on in good order to the generations that will follow,” it adds.
Donations and contributions to the restoration of St Patrick’s Church can be made online via the ‘Parish Restoration’ section on the website www. fermoyparish.ie