2024:724 - St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork, Cork

Conservation works were undertaken to the front/west elevation of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral as funded by the Community Monuments Fund Stream 1 2024 (CMF Ref : CMF24-1-CC001). Southgate Associates Conservation and Heritage Specialists were appointed to act as project managers, conservation engineers and project archaeologist on site for the duration of the contract works which ran from 26-6-24 to 30-9-24. As part of the condition of the CMF Letter of Award, a Section 26 excavation license was required for monitoring of the conservation works.

The objective of the project was to carry out essential repairs to minimize decay in the west gable, but two of the north buttresses and valley gutters also received urgent remedial work. These works prevent risk to the internal significant historic building fabric, particularly the wall paintings in the sanctuary, and the internal fabric around the organ in the west gallery. Works included careful cleaning of the west elevation masonry, areas of repointing on a like-for-like basis, masonry repairs and repairs to valley gutters in various areas; repairs and repointing were also carried out to the buttresses and valley gutters on the south side of the nave. The success of the current conservation works and the applied recommendations have had a positive influence on the cathedral building and the surrounding area. Works were monitored but no archaeological material was found during works.