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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 26 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 6

Written Answers. - O'Donnell Castle, Donegal.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

12 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the decision by the Office of Public Works to pebbledash O'Donnell Castle in Donegal town; if he will make additional moneys available to rectify the mistake and roof the Manorhouse; and when the castle will be open to the public. [15054/95]

I am aware that there were complaints about the dashing being applied to the north facing walls of the castle. Because of the ongoing deterioration in the condition of the walls, treatment of them was essential.

The National Monuments and Historic Properties Service researched the matter and fully considered the options. There was evidence that the walls had been dashed, and the surviving fragments were analysed. Having regard to that analysis and to the decayed and cavernous nature of the walls, it was decided that the optimum solution was to reapply dash rendering. This traditional form of external rendering is commonly found on contemporary buildings.

When a number of complaints were made, the work was halted in order to permit reassessment of the matter. This reassessment confirmed that the course being followed was the correct one and the work was resumed. I am advised that the damp surrounding environment will soon weather the protective coating.

Some structural support and reconstruction work was carried out to the Manorhouse over the last few years, and further conservation work will be carried out as necessary. There are no proposals at present to reroof the Manorhouse. Apart from economic considerations, there is concern about the effect the reroofing would have on the structural stability of the remaining walls of the manor. The castle will be open to the public at the beginning of the 1996 tourist season.

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