Meitheal spirit will restore Kingston College houses
Encompassing the spirit of meitheal, a group of dedicated people have come together and approached the Kingston College Trust to bring back to life the historic properties in order to provide homes to Ukrainian families newly arrived in Ireland.
Billy Skuse, secretary of the charity the Kingston College Trust, spoke with TheAvondhu on the generous coming-together of local parties to drive the renovation effort.
“There was a big effort over the last few years to restore those houses, but the cost was working out at about €30,000 per house, and we just couldn’t raise the money. We were making some progress, but not enough. We were hoping to have them up and running and have more people in them. We are very conscious that there is an Irish housing problem as well. It was a difficult decision; we had houses in poor condition, and we couldn’t put anyone into them. And yet this huge pressing problem arrived on our doorstep and we have to respond to that.”
“A group approached us, a group of businessman and said, we can help. We met them last Friday; this group is (made up of) builders, electricians, accountants, different people but they all have contacts and can get the work done. These houses will go to Ukrainian refugees, and if and when they can hopefully return safely home, those houses are ready then for the Irish market.”
The group of altruists will be taking on the restoration of four of the properties, and say they will have the projects ready in six weeks. Two other properties are identified as needing restoration works, with another two due to come on stream shortly and the charity have launched an appeal for financial help to restore these remaining four properties.
Kingston College was built in 1761 by James, Fourth Lord Baron Kingston. The College is not an educational establishment, but is the name given to the community. It consists of thirty small terraced houses in the Georgian architectural style, grouped around a large square, with a chapel in the centre.
Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Dr Paul Colton paid tribute this week in The Irish Times to the people who had rallied around the restoration effort in Mitchelstown.