Conservation projects for a church and a castle in Galway City have been awarded a combined €250,000 in funding.
Menlough Castle and St Nicholas Collegiate Church will both receive funding for conservation and repair works under the Community Monuments Fund.
€130,000 has been allocated for work on Menlough Castle, while another €120,000 will be spent preserving St. Nicholas Collegiate Church.
Speaking about the award of funding, Cllr Níall McNelis, Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway, said that it was wonderful to receive funding to preserve two such important monuments.
“The award under the Community Monuments Fund means that these two iconic monuments will be conserved, protected, and their presentation improved, for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
The Very Rev. Lynda Peilow, the rector of St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, said, “This funding is vital for safeguarding the building’s rich heritage, allowing for ongoing restoration efforts that reveal previously unknown aspects of its history.”
Provost Lynda also highlighted that, “While St. Nicholas functions as a living church, it also serves as a heritage site of immense historical importance to Galway.”
She expressed gratitude for the support that enables the urgent work needed to address immediate issues.
Over the past two years, the grant funding has facilitated a transformation of the South transept of the church, restoring it to a semblance of its former glory.
Menlough Castle, or Menlo Castle, is a 16th century castle on the shores of the River Corrib, an iconic landmark in the Galway area.
Formerly belonging to the Blake family, the castle was gutted by fire in the early 20th century and has fallen into ruin.
Describing the proposed works, Brendan Dunne, Senior Executive Planner said that significant works have been undertaken to preserve the castle in recent years.
Among the work which has been done in recent years has been the removal of overgrowth which covered most of the remain walls of the old castle.
Brendan Dunne added that this funding will support, “Consolidation and repair works to the internal spine wall, and the commencement of works to the distinctive East ‘front’ façade, including repairs to the impressive windows.”
“Likewise St Nicholas Collegiate Church is ‘a church in the heart of the city, with the city at its heart’ – and a place of considerable historical significance for the people of Galway for over 700 years, as the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use as a place of worship.”
“This €120,000 funding will support the completion of repairs to east wall of the South transept, which has been ongoing over the last number of years; in addition, external repairs to the belfry tower will be undertaken”.
