Press Releases18 Dec 20

€1 million available to support restoration works at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage supports essential roofing works at St Patrick’s.

A total of €1 million has been allocated to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, to ensure completion of repair of the main roof. 

The funding was announced yesterday (Thursday December 17) by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD.

In announcing the funding, Minister O’Brien said: ‘St Patrick’s, in terms of its location, antiquity and scale is one of the most important buildings on the island of Ireland. To pause the roof project would entail not only financial risk but a grave physical risk to the future of this historic medieval building. I know that all financial plans were carefully stress tested, but the Cathedral could never have envisaged undertaking the project through a time where it experienced zero income due to the necessary public health restrictions in place to combat Covid–19. The project must be finished, however, or the Cathedral is left extraordinarily vulnerable and therefore I am pleased to announce additional support of €1 million today.’

At the announcement today, Minister Noonan noted: ‘Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is of significant economic importance to surrounding businesses in this area of Dublin. It is one of Ireland’s most important historic structures, still operating for its original purpose 800 years after its construction, and, in normal times welcoming in excess of 600,000 visitors annually. It is also important to note that the major national roof conservation project at the Cathedral provides employment for many skilled Irish craftspeople.’

The Cathedral has been involved in an ongoing conservation repair programme with the most significant part of the programme being the repair of the main roof.  The conservation works will continue into next year.

Commenting on the announcement, the Dean and Ordinary of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Reverend Dr William Morton, said: ‘My gratitude to the Department is immeasurable for the kindness behind this major grant of €1 million to the roof project of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

‘This most welcome donation towards this essential work will ensure that the Cathedral is conserved and continues to serve as one of Ireland’s top listed buildings in terms of heritage and culture in the widest sense – ecclesiastically, musically, architecturally, and economically – as a destination ever increasing in popularity in the higher regions of visitors’ ‘must see’ list in Dublin.

‘Saint Patrick’s Cathedral offers a rich and compelling cultural experience, and this grant strikes a chord of optimism that 2021 and beyond will augur well in terms of the return of visitors – national and international – whom we look forward to welcoming to our vibrant cathedral community.

‘I wish to offer my deepest thanks to Minister Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State in his department, Malcolm Noonan, and former Minister of Heritage, Josepha Madigan, for all their much appreciated help and support.’

Report by Lynn Glanville, Dublin & Glendalough Communications Officer