top of page

Conservation of Friary Ruins, Clane

Writer: Pádraig McEvoyPádraig McEvoy

Updated: May 7, 2024

Clane-Maynooth Municipal District Meeting, Friday, 5 January 2024



Councillor Pádraig McEvoy


Motion


That the council summarise and shares the report detailing the completed conservation efforts on the Friary Ruins in Clane, partially funded by Local Property Tax allocations.


Agenda Report


Kildare County Council received funding from both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Community Monuments Fund 2023 and Kildare County Council’s ‘Local Property Tax’ fund to carry out conservation work to Clane Friary (CMF23-I-KD003). The project was overseen by David Kelly Partnership with Stonecraft Restoration Ltd. undertaking the onsite works.


The following works were carried out;

North Wall

  • Removed vegetation

  • Repointed walls

  • Packed open joints at rotated foundation stones

  • Consolidated reveals of windows

  • Rebuilt missing face work as core masonry

  • Pinned unsupported masonry with stainless steel pins in epoxy resin

  • Consolidated wall ends

  • Lifted and reset wall tops with a rough racked finish

  • Consolidated reinstated facework


East Wall

  • Removed vegetation both faces

  • Repointed walls

  • Lifted and reset wall top to a rough rack finish


During works, further funding was secured from Kildare County Council, and further works were priced and undertaken. The following additional works were carried out:


South Wall, Eastern End

  • Removed vegetation both faces

  • Repointed walls

  • Lifted and reset wall top to a rough rack finish

  • Stitch the broken headstone inside the eastern wall


To ensure the future of Clane Friary, the consultants also prepared a maintenance strategy for the same, which is set out below:


  1. The wall should be inspected visually on a monthly basis by a member of the local community group to identify any sudden changes, vandalism, or loss of masonry;

  2. The wall should be weeded by hand annually to prevent ivy and vegetation from re-establishing itself on the wall;

  3. The condition of the wall should be reviewed prior to commencement of any further conservation works to the monument and at least every five years by a conservation professional experienced in the assessment of historic masonry walls.


Issued by: Ms. C. O’Donnell, Senior Executive Planner, Forward Planning.


Information


Dr Seamus Cullen's Local History webpage on Clane's Friary [link]


Standing Stone webpage [link]


Clane Community Council Heritage webpage [link]


 
 
 

Comments


bottom of page