The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Bernard Moynihan and the Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell welcomed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD alongside Aindrias Moynihan TD to Macroom for the official unveiling of completed conservation works at the Gate Lodge of Macroom Castle.
This project involved external works to the Castle Gate Lodge with sensitive repairs works to masonry and historic weather slating, as outlined below:
· Removal of the intrusive 1970s cement-based ribbon pointing to the entire structure, including front and rear and attached antique shop and the arch side walls and vault and its replacement with lime-based pointing
· Replacement of the degraded modern corrugated sheeting with an anthracite grey powder coated corrugated sheeting and structural stabilisation of roof structure
· Conservation repair of capping stones at upper level
· Flaunching to Weather surfaces of castellations, towers, weathering surfaces and chimneys
· Repainting of windows and ironmongery across the site
· Lifting and relaying of capping slabs on Lead and NHL Lime mortar
· Replacement of rainwater hood
The project was supported through the Historic Towns Initiative, with funding from The Heritage Council, Cork County Council and the Trustees of Macroom Castle Demesne.