West Cork buildings to see new life with €360,000 investment

A total of €106,767 has been allocated for the Church of the Ascension in Timoleague under the Historic Structures Fund. File Picture: Andy Gibson.

Restoration work to the tune of €360,000 is set to breathe new life into some of West Cork’s best known buildings as part of the Historic Structures Fund.

Skibbereen’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, Timoleague’s Church of the Ascension, and Kinsale’s municipal district offices are all set to benefit from the initiative.

A sum of more than €100,000 will be allocated to each building in a bid to protect and improve its structural integrity.

The municipal district hall in Kinsale will receive €130,000, while St Patrick’s Cathedral will benefit from €130,000. A total of €106,767 has been allocated for the Church of the Ascension.

Heritage minister Christopher O’Sullivan explained why the funds are so important.

“West Cork’s built heritage is the architectural jewel in our towns and villages. It is an absolute pleasure working with and watching the community groups in Kinsale, Skibbereen, and Timoleague working tirelessly to protect these magnificent buildings for the public good,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

A total of €4.42m in funding will be provided for buildings nationwide under the fund.

Project funding

Among the other recipients is the Dingle courthouse building, which has been allocated €115,000 for vital roof repairs.

Other projects to receive funding include:

•  €200,000 for repairs to the Ambassador Theatre on Dublin's Parnell St.
• More than €180,000 for the Wonderful Barn, Leixlip,  Kildare, with ground chamber and other works helping to reinstate its use by the public.
• €170,000 for Áras na nGael, the historic Galway Arts Centre in Dominick St, Galway City. The money will assist with conservation repairs to the shared historic roof of a terrace of Georgian townhouses currently in a vulnerable condition.

“This grant can make the difference between a cherished heritage building falling into disrepair or being restored and valued as part of a thriving streetscape," said Mr O'Sullivan.

"I know this funding will have a huge impact around the country, and I look forward to seeing the results for myself over the coming months and years.” 

The main aim of the fund is to facilitate large-scale conservation work on heritage structures which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. 

Other aims include promoting the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties while securing the preservation of protected structures and or culturally significant assets. The fund also has a focus on supporting the investment of private capital in labour-intensive projects with a view to conserving historic structures for community use. 

Priorities include building resilience in heritage properties to allow them withstand the effects of climate change.