We should value old buildings

SURVEYS regularly show that natural scenery is the big attraction in Ireland but, often, we blissfully ignore gems that are under our noses.

Thankfully, there’s a growing awareness of the heritage value of many old buildings and structures in which people lived, and from which people earned a living, in past centuries.

We have scores of factory ruins, rusting machinery, mills, canals, ancient mines and railways, all waiting for a new role in 21st century Ireland. We also have countless examples of how this can be done successfully for the benefit of towns, cities and rural communities.

In recent times, I’ve visited three such places — the Old Midleton Distillery, in Co Cork; the Titanic Experience in the disused Belfast Shipyards, and the Copper Mines Trail, in Killarney, Co Kerry.

All are worthwhile and stimulating (not just because of the Jameson whiskey!) experiences.

Talking about railways, plans to reopen the old Chetwynd Viaduct, straddling the Cork to Bandon road, as part of a walking and cycling trail on the former West Cork line, are being eagerly looked forward to.

Our industrial heritage was the subject of a recent conference in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, organised by Glens of Lead, which put the spotlight on many artefacts and tangible remains of a vanished world.

Some date from the 18th century and their restoration and conservation continues to be a catalyst for the regeneration of communities through their development as tourist attractions, like the afore-mentioned examples.

While the remains of castles, big houses and monasteries are accepted reminders of our past, more recent buildings such as mills and bridges are undervalued. Yet, these buildings underpinned the economic and social structure of Ireland for centuries.

Many of the surviving sites are derelict, have no obvious reuse and are difficult to adapt to other purposes. This makes them vulnerable to unsympathetic alteration, or even total demolition.

However, some organisations and individuals have been engaged in recording such sites. Duchas has a database of over 150,000 sites, 3,000 of which are of industrial interest.

All over the country, there are legally protected structures, which are ‘’listed’’ by local councils has having architectural, historical, archaeological, or cultural, merit. Nevertheless, the ease with which some councils are ‘’delisting’’ such buildings, is causing serious concern to groups such as An Taisce and conservationists generally.