It has been a key objective of Offaly Heritage Plan to conserve medieval buildings around the county and to support owners where they are on private land. The following section outlines various conservation programmes that have been undertaken. For an archaeological description of each monument please see www.archaeology.ie.
2013 & 2023 Killeigh Chapter House – (OF025-017001)
The vaulted chapter house in Killeigh is a significant structure which is to the east end of the Church of Ireland. This is in private ownership. It was part of the Killeigh Friary. Sections of the vault were causing concern and were propped in 2013 pending access to grant aid. With the Community Monuments Fund, in 2023 stabilization was able to take place to secure the vault and to carry out necessary pointing on the walls. This work was guided by David Kelly Partners with Margaret Quinlan as conservation architect and Denis Shine archaeologist. The conservation consultants was appointed as Revamp Conservation.
A range of 3D scans of the building available to view on Sketchfab – see the Offaly Heritage page and look for Killeigh to see this interesting building. https://sketchfab.com/OffalyHeritage.
2021, 2022 & 2023 Seir Kieran – (OF0039-003007)
Seir Kieran church and graveyard are in the heart of a large monastic enclosure at Clareen, Birr. The Church and graveyard are owned and managed by the Church of Ireland and the church is actively used. The enclosure is owned by the State and managed by the monuments division of the Office of Public Works. In 2021 the Vestry of the Church of Ireland commissioned a conservation plan for Seir Kieran which then led to an application to the Community Monuments Fund to conserve the boundary wall in 2022 and 2023. The conservation team was led by David Kelly Partners with Margaret Quinlan as conservation architect and Denis Shine as archaeologist.
Offaly Heritage has two interesting video clips on their YouTube channel.
- Seir Kieran, Clareen 2021
- Seir Kieran, Clareen updating on 2022 projects (funded by the Heritage Council)
2021 & 2022 Castlearmstrong – (OF007-037)
Castlearmstrong is in private ownership and is on a working farmyard. It is adjacent to a trackway to the bog and to St Bridget’s well. Please note this site is private and there should be no entry without the express permission of the owner. Conservation was needed with a crack in the gable end and loose masonry. A team led by conservation engineers Southgate and Associates had already drawn up a report on the condition of the castle in 2018 and conservation works were then undertaken in two phases during 2021 and 2022, funded by the Community Monuments Fund and carried out by Clancy and Partners. In both years BirdWatch Ireland assisted with monitoring the site as barn owls have nested here. Works started after the chicks had fledged.
2020 & 2021 Blundell Castle, Edenderry – (OF012-003001)
The ruins of Blundell Castle, owned by Offaly County Council, is a key feature in the landscape of Edenderry. Located on Blundell Hill in the centre of the town and surrounded by Blundell Park. Offaly County Council heritage office commissioned a conservation report by Margaret Quinlan, conservation architect in 2007. Download the Blundell Castle conservation report by Margaret Quinlan. This formed the basis for the conservation specifications for works in 2020 which were approved by the National Monuments Service and the works then took place on site in 2001. The conservation works were overseen by David Kelly Partners in association with Margaret Quinlan and were funded by the Community Monuments Fund. During conservation works four panels were erected to let users of the park know what was happing.
2018 & 2020 Drumcullen Church, nr Kinnitty – (OF036-028001)
This church and graveyard are in the Council’s ownership. The first phase of works was undertaken in 2018 focusing on the conservation of the vault and the west end of the church supported by the Structures at Risk fund. The announcement of the Community Monuments Fund in 2020 allowed for phase two and the focus of conservation along the south wall. The works were overseen by David Kelly Partners and carried out by Frank Murray Conservation.