JUNE
2012 - CATHEDRAL RESTORATION UPDATE
- During the springtime we received two approvals
from Longford Town Council.
1. One was a Section 57 in relation
to replacing all limestone columns, pilasters
etc. This work is ongoing. After a tender process
a quarry has been appointed to make the stonework.
Currently a number of building firms (including
local ones) are tendering to carry out the building
work. It is anticipated that they will be on
site during the summertime.
2. The second approval was the
granting of planning permission in relation
to a new roof, new floors etc. An objection
has been made to this. The matter now rests
with An Bord Pleanála. We are not in a position
to proceed with these works until the Bord makes
a judgement which will most likely take a number
of months
MAY 2012
- CATHEDRAL RESTORATION UPDATE - As
announced some weeks ago, the Cathedral Restoration
Project was recently given two approvals from
Longford Town Council.
One is a Section
57 allowing us to replace all columns, internal
plaster, and to repair damaged stonework.
The second is
a planning permission in relation to new roof,
new floors and associated works. An objection
to this has been lodged to an Bord Pleanála.
The Heritage group
An Taisce commented on the plans as follows:
"This welcome proposal reflects credit
on the design team appointed by St. Mel’s Diocesan
Trust in researching and putting forward a detailed
proposal for the fire damaged cathedral."
While the planning
permission will now have to go through the Bord
Pleanála appeal process, the tendering for the
Section 57 works is on-going with a view to
starting these works in the summertime.
While the
Cathedral fire was a great disaster, ironically
it will bring a huge building project to our
town, injecting substantial monies into the
local economy. An enormous amount of time and
energy has been invested in the Cathedral Restoration
Project by the Project Committee, Design Team
and others so it is regrettable that this objection
has been submitted.
APRIL
2012 - CATHEDRAL RESTORATION UPDATE -
Over the past few months the Cathedral Restoration
Project has continued to advance well. In the
past two weeks we reached two significant milestones.
The planning application lodged in January to
Longford Town Council was granted. This application
applies largely to a new roof and new floors.
Longford Town Council have also
granted a Section 57 approval in respect of
the following works – replacement of limestone
columns, internal plaster to walls, repairs
to the external dress stone etc. We are delighted
to have been granted these two permissions and
they should bring the construction phase of
the project ever closer.
The next phase will be the
tendering process and hopefully it will be possible
to begin the works in the coming summertime.
We have suffered a great loss with the Cathedral
fire but ironically it’s restoration will bring
a huge building project to our community and
will be a major boost to the local economy.
MARCH
2012 - CATHEDRAL RESTORATION PROGRESS
- St. Mel’s Cathedral Project Committee is pleased
to announce the appointment of Fratelli Ruffatti,
a renowned Italian firm, to design and build
the organ for the renewed St. Mel’s Cathedral.
This is a significant milestone
as the organ will be one of the key features
in the restored Cathedral.
Fratelli Ruffatti are a second
generation family firm of specialist organ builders
based in Padua; they have an outstanding reputation
for quality and craftsmanship and we are confident
that the proposed organ will be a truly beautiful
enhancement of the building.
We acknowledge the assistance
of and sincerely thank the organ subcommittee,
comprising of a team of national and local experts
who guided the Project Committee in this decision.
As part of the discernment process
a number of criteria were considered and the
Fratelli Ruffatti tender was recommended as
the preferred supplier on the basis of musicality,
design and value for money. Their web site:
www.ruffatti.com.
THE RECENT PLANNING APPLICATION
submitted to Longford Town Council for the Cathedral
Restoration relates primarily to the structural
elements of the building to include new roof,
floors, stone-works etc. Some of the drawings
in relation this planning application are available
for viewing in the Assembly Hall after Masses
this weekend.
February
2012
CATHEDRAL
RESTORATION PROGRESS - The Cathedral
Restoration Project remains a very comprehensive
and complex project. Thankfully it is progressing
well. We have just submitted a Planning Application
to Longford Town Council. You may have noticed
the site notices and advertisement in the Longford
Leader. This application applies primarily to
new roof, gutters, floors and associated works.
CATHEDRAL RESTORATION RESERVE FUND -
As the Cathedral Restoration Project continues
to develop it is evident that we will have to
carry some costs which will fall outside our
insurance claim. While the fire was a great
disaster, it is also an opportunity to develop
the building for the future. Such improvements
are known as enhancement or betterment. Examples
include – improved toilet facilities, improved
landscaping, provision of lifts, etc.
We have continued
to receive generous donations from the public
throughout 2011. These funds are held in the
name of ‘Friends of St. Mel’s Cathedral’ and
overseen by the Parish Finance Committee.
A diocesan wide
collection will be taken up this weekend in
aid of this fund. Thank you for your generosity.
CATHEDRAL
RESTORATION UPDATE - 25th November
2011 - The repairs to the statues on the
front of the Cathedral are nearing completion.
The statues were installed in the early 1890’s
and so they have suffered approximately 120
years of weathering causing deterioration, cracking,
etc. Repairs have also been carried out to lead
flashings etc.
148 objects
from the Museum were salvaged. Under the supervision
of the National Museum, a professional curator,
Kasia Bernaciak, has been appointed to conserve,
clean and stablilise these artefacts. The time
capsule recently found while the statues were
being repaired is also with the National Museum
for assessment.
The temporary
investigative works and trial repairs contract
will be completed in the coming weeks. This
involved trial cleaning, tests for geo thermal
heating, steel support to the columns, sample
plasterwork, preparations for the Open Day,
ground investigation and replacement of one
column. These works will greatly inform and
assist the Design Team in their on-going work
to plan the restoration of the Cathedral. It
is hoped that the restoration proper will begin
next Spring/Summer.
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