Re: Re: Architectural heritage of Limerick

Limerick’s built heritage is brought to book (Limerick Leader)

Published Date: 21 June 2008 By David Hurley

OVER 700 of Limerick city’s most historic buildings have been included in a new book, which was launched by Environment Minister John Gormley at City Hall this week.

Photographs and critiques of the buildings all feature in the book which was produced by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The launch of the book followed the publication of a special commemorative poster in last week’s Limerick Leader.

“There are very fine churches which are a credit to their congregations.

“The two cathedrals, medieval St Mary’s and the Victorian Gothic Revival St John’s, are both buildings of national importance.

“There is Limerick’s Georgian core, Newtown Pery, a notable example of urban planning and design and an impressive Georgian new town – the elaborately carved doorcases and fanlights, hinting at the importance of the interiors,” said Minister Gormley.

The director of Limerick Civic Trust, Denis Leonard, welcomed the publication of the book.

“It is a great looking book. It is very attractive and is a great record of the best of Limerick architecture.

“It shows what is good all around the city. I am very enthused about it,” he said.

At the launch, Limerick City Council senior planner Dick Tobin revealed that some of the buildings featured had collapsed since they were photographed almost two years ago.

“Since the record has been made, I think three of these buildings have fallen down.

“It underlines the difficulty of preserving buildings that are 300 years old.

“I think some of them were never designed to last this long and it is a continuing struggle to ensure there is sufficient cash available to maintain the buildings and to keep them in useful occupation,” he said.

Minister Gormley expressed his dissappointment at the collapse of the buildings.

“It is always regrettable when you see that kind of dereliction and that is why it is so important that we concentrate on conservation and recognise its importance.

“But I don’t want this book to be simply a record, I want to have a living heritage that we can see and appreciate,” he stressed.

Minister launches Architectural Heritage Survey of Limerick (Department of Environment)
18/06/08

The Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr John Gormley, T.D. to-day (17th June) launched his Department’s Architectural Heritage Survey of Limerick City and the associated book, An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of Limerick City. This was the eighteenth survey conducted by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

Speaking in City Hall, the Minister made reference to some highlights in terms of architectural heritage which the City boasts: “There are very fine churches which are a credit to their congregations. The two cathedrals, medieval St Mary’s – the oldest building in the city still in its original use – and the Victorian Gothic Revival, St John’s, are both buildings of national importance. There is Limerick’s Georgian core, Newtown Pery, a notable example of urban planning and design and an impressive Georgian new town – the elaborately carved doorcases and fanlights, hinting at the importance of the interiors.”

The Minister made reference to some examples in the book of best practice in Architecture, both in terms of the sensitive adaptation of heritage buildings for new uses and of more modern architecture “the former corn store at the junction of Shannon Street and Henry Street, has been successfully converted into apartments. The award winning Shannon Rowing Club, on Sarsfield Bridge, is a superb example of a new building type developed for new functions – in this case for leisure – in the early twentieth century.”

As the surveys are published, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, formally recommends to the planning authority that structures identified as of Regional importance or higher be included in the city or county’s Records of Protected Structures (RPS). The RPS is the record which planning authorities are obliged to maintain under the Planning and Development Act 2000 which confers certain legal protections on such structures. A total of 732 structures in the survey of Limerick City are rated as being of Regional or higher importance.

Structures on the RPS can qualify for grant assistance for conservation works and the Minister alluded to this in his address. “ In 2008, I have allocated funding of almost €25 Million to support built heritage projects throughout the country. This provision represents a record increase of 42% on the amount spent in 2007.

Funding of €100,000 has been allocated by my Department to Limerick City Council and €257,000 to Limerick County Council this year to support the conservation of protected structures. These amounts represent a significant increase on the 2007 allocations. I am also pleased to announce here today that St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, will receive a grant of €250,000 for conservation works under the Significant Places of Public Worship initiative administered by the Heritage Council.

The Architectural Heritage Survey of Limerick City and the associated book, An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of Limerick City.

The book itself self, been an introduction with 120 pages covers very well the city’s architecture and retails at just €12 is very good value for money.

Obviously the over 700 of Limerick city’s most historic buildings have been not been included in the new book as incorrectly written by the Limerick Leader Article above. The author probably meant the on-line Survey version.

Buildings of Ireland (Survey Highlights)

• Bridges
• Villa Architecture
• Uniform Victorian/Edwardian Terraces
• Ecclesiastical Architecture
• Public Monuments

I found the navigation a bit confusing, to get all 731 results per advanced search, just leave the selection parameters empty and submit.