About the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church

The Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church of the Holy Cross, a Gothic Revival-style Church, was built as a result of strong conviction, great courage and tremendous sacrifice, both at home and abroad. Today, it stands testament to generations of devoted, faithful parishioners. The Church bears the name of Daniel O’Connell, the Liberator, who was born in the parish and who worked in his political career in the early 19th century to bring about Catholic Emancipation.

Opened in 1902, the O’Connell Memorial Church has served our parishioners well. A building of this scale and age requires regular attention to ensure the structure remains intact and to maintain its original beauty.

As we embark on the 120th anniversary of the cornerstone laying, the O’Connell Memorial Church is undergoing extensive conservation, restoration and preservation. Such a significant undertaking will ensure our magnificent Church is in sound, physical shape to continue serving the needs of our parishioners. Importantly, it will allow us to follow in the footsteps of our parents and grandparents in sharing a legacy with our children and grandchildren, thereby continuing the wonderful story of our Church and the faith of our parish community.

About the Restoration Project

After much examination, consideration and evaluation, the restoration of the Church exterior commenced in early 2008. With an estimated timetable of fifteen months, Phase I of the restoration will primarily involve extensive structural work, focusing on five core areas.

Walls
 Windows
External Doors
Roof and roof plumbing
Rainwater goods
See below for details and photographs

On completion of the exterior work, consideration will be given to the interior restoration and beautification. Much of the internal focus will be on redecoration (painting) and enhancing comfort levels (increased lighting and a new heating system). The indoor surfaces and fabric have suffered as a result of the external deterioration and lack of sustained, long-term remedial work.

An enhanced interior will lend itself to a greater liturgical experience, in a brighter, warmer atmosphere and space.
Given the magnitude of the project and the level of expertise required, we have retained Eamon Hedderman Architects to conduct the conservation, restoration and preservation work who are renowned for its ecclesiastical work and conservation of historic buildings

Funding the Restoration work

The restoration of our Church is an unprecedented undertaking for our parish. Securing the funds to complete the necessary work provides us with an extraordinary challenge but a special opportunity.

It is estimated the total restoration and preservation project will cost €6 million over a five-year period. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of parishioners in raising €1 million over the past few years. This, combined with bridging finance through the Kerry Parochial Trust, has enabled us to commence Phase I.
Again, we need the generosity, spirit and resolve of the men and women who built the O’Connell Memorial Church. To accomplish the extensive restoration project and to preserve this wonderful edifice for the future, we need our faithful parishioners, local business community, neighbouring parishes, national friends and worldwide network to help with this historic initiative.

 

Please consider supporting this project yourself and help us enable this fine Church to continue as a place of worship from our community.

 

To enlarge a photograph below, move the mouse over the picture and wait a few moments.

Health and safety for the 15-20 workers on site obviously required the whole building to be scaffolded. This task itself  took months, as access was needed to every part of the building.

When one sees the steel scaffolding and the crane, one has to wonder how the original builders in the late 1800's were able to build such a fine building with the best (and often heaviest) of materials.

The original pointing on the walls between the granite blocks was allowing water to seep into the building, resulting in the terrible staining inside. One of the most important (and most tedious) parts of the restoration project is the cutting out of the pointing and refilling it.

The new pointing materials for the walls is lime-based rather than cement-based as it allows for the natural slight movement that comes with age and time, and it also allows a degree of breathability.

The main timber on the roof was thankfully in perfect order, but the roof needed to be reslated for two reasons: 1. because of water entering due to damaged slate, and 2. because the valleys needed to be re-leaded. The slate is carefully removed with salvage and reuse in mind

After removing the slates, any damaged timber was replaced, and the roof then is felted and latted for re-slating

While every effort is made in salvaging the existing slate, only appox 55% of the existing slate is salvageable. It was Blue Bangor slate that was used, and thankfully reclaimed slate has been sourced which is perfectly in keeping with the existing slate that will be going up. It's a surprise to many that Valentia slate wasn't originally used, given the proximity of the quarry, but it is thought that the weight of the roof with Valentia slate would have been impossible hold. For all table-quiz buffs, there are approx 20,000 slates on O'Connell Memorial Church!

While there is the challenge of it being a huge roof, there is the added challenge of the curved roof over the Sanctuary.

And then there's the challenge of the height! There are many people who wouldn't go up on scaffolding, but to be on the ridge of the roof is certainly not for the weakhearted. With a 63 degree angle on the roof, you'd want a good balance!

A good roof is pointless without effective lead work in the valleys and at the joints - the powerful Atlantic winds and rains can strike hard. 35 tons of lead are needed, and it must be carefully and perfectly shaped to give full protection.

Again, the variety of shapes in the building can bring its own challenge - the shaping and welding the lead on the turrets for example was particularly slow

Where the roof meets the walls there is a parapet (a passage way for walking safely in the gulleys). To do the lead work effectively, the lead comes from under the slate, into the gulley and up the parapet wall. The photo shows the replacing of the parapet stones after the lead has been put in place.

The doors are being repaired and restored following years of weather damage. Work will also be done on draught-proofing the building to ensure heat conservation and a reduced carbon footprint.

The stained glass windows around the Sanctuary have been removed so that the lead in them can be replaced. The windows along the aisle are being worked on at the moment. The storm-glazing outside the windows will also be replaced.

Restoration Update as at Oct 08

·         Presently, the project is under the management and direction of L&M Keating subcontractors. Phase 1, which commenced on the 3^rd January 2008, is a fifteen-month contract and while inclement weather during the summer made progress difficult, the project is no more than two weeks behind schedule. Preliminary work for phase 2, the internal restoration, is currently under review.

·         The re-slating of the building has commenced and 85% of the work in this area  is now complete. It is anticipated that 50% of the roof slate will be comparable matching slate with the balance being sourced by L & M Keating with the approval of the Architect. The delivery of the newly fabricated crosses will enable the completion of the main roof with the contractors are now working on the lower roofs above the northern Aisle, Mortuary Chapel and the Sacristy. This project is under the supervision and guidance of Denis Daly/O’Connor Construction.

·         The roof plumbing is the responsibility of Robert Copeland & Sons. Their specialisation involves the detailed restoration of the entire lead network, which facilitates the efficient draining of the rainwater from the roof.

·         The scaffolding has started to be dismantled in some areas and while again a separate contract, it is at the service of all other subcontractors to access the roof, extended walls and windows.

·         The extraction of the old pointing, the cleaning of the external walls and the restoration of the stone is the responsibility of Skyline Steeplejacks. The raking out of the old pointing and its reinstatement with a lime-based render is 65% complete. This process will involve the removal, restoration and refitting of all steel works on the roof.

·         The railings have been removed and taken off site for sandblasting and “dipping”. Once restored they will be treated with a heavy-duty paint to prevent weather corrosion.

·         The final major subcontract is the work on the windows. This entails the removal of all windows; stain glass and leaded. Emerald Glass has been charged with this responsibility. Presently the stained glass windows have been removed, restored and refitted while work on the leaded windows is 50% complete.

With gratitude always for your continuing support.