€50K for works at Mount Melleray Abbey
Significant funding was allocated to Waterford recently under the Historic Structures Fund. Mount Melleray Abbey was one of the heritage projects to benefit from the fund, allocated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
€50,000 was allocated to the Abbey to address water ingress at the west side and stair tower of the public chapel and at the east end of the chancel.
The funding, which is administered in conjunction with local authorities, will also see measures taken to contain an outbreak of dry rot in the chapter room and hostel.
HISTORIC SHOPFRONT IN KILFINANE
Kilfinane in South Limerick also saw a funding allocation, as Healy’s on Main Street was allocated €37,000 for the construction and restoration of the historic shopfront and front facade to include a bressemmer beam.
Announcing the funding awards, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said that he was particularly pleased to announce awards made to vernacular structures and historic shopfronts following their successful pilot schemes last year.
‘I am delighted to announce this year’s Historic Structures Fund which will assist 78 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country as they carry out hundreds of conservation projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage.
“These awards celebrate the richness and diversity of our built heritage and help to preserve our connections to past generations, in particular through their support of traditional building skills, which this Government is committed to investing in,” Minister Noonan said.
Rosemary Ryall, Architectural Conservation Officer, stated
that this year Waterford City and County Council have received €522,155 for built heritage from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In county Waterford, the largest sum allocated went to Mount Congreve House in Kilmeaden, which was granted €155,272. Curraghmore House in Portlaw was allocated €50,000 under the scheme while Spider Light, Passage East Spit was granted €47,483, and €37,000 went toward T&H Doolan on Great Georges Street.
Such funding allocated across Waterford will assist with 27 projects which cover maritime heritage, shopfronts, private dwellings, country houses and church buildings.
Across Cork, Tipperary and Limerick several other historical buildings were also granted funding including, but not limited to, St John the Baptist Church in Kinsale (Co Cork), Limerick Treaty Stone and Corabella House in Newcastle, County Tipperary.