Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.
Donal Carey
Question:
199
Mr. D. Carey
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
the plans, if any, she has for the reconstruction of Ennis Abbey; if construction will commence in 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[17014/99]
The position is that Ennis Friary was included in my Department's overall list of capital projects which were to be funded under the Operational Programme for Tourism, OPT, 1994-1999. The proposed works at this 13th century urban friary were to the vaulted sacristy and latrine tower to the east of the friary site and, while primarily conservation in nature, the works were also to include an enhancement of the tourism product at the friary in accordance with the requirements of the OPT. Thus, the main objective of the works were to allow for the housing indoors of the magnificent McMahon and Creagh tombs, with their stone panels of exceptional quality which have deteriorated in recent years due to atmospheric pollution. In addition, however, it was proposed to include a first floor exhibition space over the vaulted sacristy, and the intention here was that the space would be used to sensitively explain the story of the links between the Franciscan Order and the town of Ennis over some 800 years.
In preparation for the carrying out of these capital works, an archaeological investigation of the proposed site was carried out in the period April to June 1998. At their request, I then met a delegation from a local group, Oidhreacht na hInse, at Ennis Friary on 18 July 1998 during which I explained my Department's proposals for the site; emphasised that they were only preliminary in nature; and undertook to take full regard of the groups own views in the matter.
In response, the representatives of Oidhreacht na hInse expressed a number of concerns about my Department's preliminary proposals at the site meeting itself, and followed this up with a detailed written response which was submitted to my Department in August 1998. In summary, the group indicated their opposition to the construction of any new building at the friary on the grounds,inter alia, that it would profoundly alter the view of the friary and would be entirely out of sympathy with it. The group accepted that the relocation of the stonework to a protected indoor environment is the proper responsibility of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, and they suggested that adaptation of the adjacent nineteenth century stables would be the solution to this problem.
Following on from the site meeting and the subsequent submission of the written response from Oidhreacht na hInse, I requested the architectural service of Dúchas to examine all options which might meet the concerns expressed by Oidhreacht na hInse. I can assure the Deputy that, subsequently, all options for development within the Ennis Friary site, which would also meet the tourism requirements of the OPT, were considered and exhausted, but that no solution to my satisfaction could be found. Moreover, the Dúchas architectural service advised me that, while the stonework could be housed in the adapted stables adjacent to the friary site, this would have to be in a somewhat fragmented way which was not favoured by them. This, however, is something which I feel needs further consideration and I have asked for a feasibility study to be carried out on the possible adaptation-reconstruction of the stable buildings, notwithstanding the fact that, to my Department's knowledge, the site in question is not for sale at the present time, even if I did consider it suitable for development. I must also inform the Deputy that, as an alternative to any additional works either on the friary site or adjacent thereto, I am seeking specialist advice on the possible preservation of the stonework outdoors on a cyclical treatment basis.
The position, therefore, is that I have been obliged to remove Ennis Friary from the list for inclusion in the current round of EU funding, since no project at the site could now be completed within the time constraints laid down by the OPT, which requires commitment of funds by end-1999 and full completion by end-2000.
The process which I have outlined above has been a rather lengthy one, but I believe it has generated a worthwhile debate both within my own Department and with local conservation interests on alternative strategies for the protection and conservation of national monuments. I am happy to assure the Deputy that, notwithstanding the de-listing of this project from the OPT, I am committed to providing whatever funds are necessary for the proper protection of the stonework at the friary once the outstanding matters which I have cited above have been addressed and considered by me.
I am, however, pleased to also inform the Deputy that the funds which I had allocated to the Ennis Friary project have been re-directed to a major upgrading of the monastic site of St. Senan at Scattery Island, Kilrush, County Clare. Following on the construction of a new pier at the Island last year, the additional works now under way include the re-surfacing of all pathways on the island; additional signage and information panelling to provide a number of heritage trails on the Island; upgrading of the area off the pier; consolidation works to the derelict village on the Island; the eventual provision of a very modest guide service building on the island itself, subject to environmental considerations being fully met; and the upgrading of my Department's visitor centre at the marina in Kilrush town. I should also inform the Deputy that work on the construction of a new archaeological trail at Mooghaun Fort, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, is now well under way and that I will be opening this new tourism facility during National Heritage Week in September.
