Union members seek donations to restore banner

MEMBERS of a union are hoping to collect several thousand euro to complete the restoration of an historic banner.

The 10ft by 10ft banner, which was made for The Operative Society of Masons and Bricklayers in 1843, ended up stored in the Fitzgerald Park museum, but it had deteriorated to such an extent that it needed expert restoration.

The museum paid for expert Rachel Phelan to look at the banner and she estimated it would cost up to €30,000 to restore.