Plans to develop Edmund Rice heritage site

A PLANNING application is to be submitted to Waterford City Council over the coming days for a development project designed to transform the historic Mount Sion site on Barrack Street into one of Ireland’s premier ecclesiastical and heritage tourism sites.

The development at the Edmund Rice International Heritage Centre is the first major refurbishment of the site since the beatification of Blessed Edmund by Pope John Paul II in 1996.

The mortal remains of the founder of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers rest at Mount Sion and it remains the principal site for the veneration of his relics. It is also where the then Edmund Rice established his first community school in 1802.

Plans for the project have been prepared by Waterford-based CJ Falconer & Associates Architects in consultation with Irish and British experts on ecclesiastical buildings and heritage projects, with Yorkshire-based Janus engaged as museum consultants.

Br Paul D Power is project manager for the development, which will involve relocating the existing red-brick Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

It will be replaced by a chapel within the Mount Sion campus. Designed along similar, compact lines to the existing chapel, it will take greater advantage of the elevated site which overlooks the city beloved by Blessed Edmund.

The new chapel will continue to be available to the local community.

The attractive Barrack Street frontage of the Brothers’ residence, the former chapel, the band room, bakery and tailors shop will form the backdrop of a European-style landscaped plaza. Stained glass in the existing chapel, which was built in the 1970s, requires major investment if it is to be retained and preserved.

It will be incorporated into the new development, especially in the new stone-faced chapel which will be circular with a free-standing, square, natural slate roof.

Due to be completed within 12 months, the Edmund Rice International Heritage Centre will feature an interactive walk-through museum charting the history of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers.