Historicalhouse inCurryistobe demolished
Council says 19th century Parochial house does not merit protection from demolition
CURRY old Parochial House, dating from 1882 is to be demolished and a car park put in its place next to Curry National School.
Sligo County Council gave the project the green light on April 10th. The Board of Management of Curry National School made their application “in response to the growing problem of traffic management” around the school at morning and afternoon rush hours when parents are dropping off and collecting pupils.
“Traffic is backed up onto and along the busy N17. The area to the front of the school is simply not big enough to cope with the traffic” they said in their application. The Board of Management and Fr Leo Henry are worried that it is only a matter of time before there is an accident and so are anxious to expedite a solution
They claimed the Parochial House is “dilapidated” and “not habitable as it is structurally dangerous”. Pic:
They said the land was idle and belonged to the Diocesan Trust. They said their plans to knock the Parochial House will allow them to build a new traffic area “on a clean slate” which will move the pick up and drop off areas to the right of the school and move cars away from the N17.
“At the very least it will improve the current situation considerably and more than likely avoid an incident in the future,” they said. “Furthermore, the school bus cannot turn at the school as it stands and has to drive one mile to find a turning area,” they added. The current parking area is along the driveway to the side of the Parochial House. The school’s application attracted one submission by Mr John Gallagher of Tubbercurry who asked the Council to refuse planning on the grounds that the Parochial house and associated Coach house and out buildings were “of historical importance in that they were the principal place of residence of Roman Catholic Clergy since the construction of the build- ings from 1879- 1882 until recently.” He maintained the building was part of the character and builti heritage of Curry Village and pointed out that “at least six other buildings including the old National Schools built in 1884 have been demolishedshed in the last 20 years.”
Mr Gallagher said there were sufficient available lands beside the school which could be used to re- site the parking and set- down while protecting the Parochial house.
The plans also attracted opposition from Curry native Ms Margaret Brennan who wrote a letter to this newspaper about the issue. She said “allowing old buildings to be razed to the ground to make way for car parks or incongruous new architectural mistakes is an insult to the innate natural beauty and charm of our small villages. There is ample room on the three acre site to create a car and bus park area for the adjacent primary school, without interfering with the house and its outbuildings. “With goodwill and creative thinking, the house and its garden could become a valuable asset toe the school and the local community,” she said. “We have a duty to keep the past available for the enjoyment and understanding of present and future generations. Once it is destroyed there is no way back,” she added. The house is not a Protected Structure. “While the building was constructed in the 1800s, this does not automatically give it historical importance and protection,” said planners.