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Tag Archives: St. Flannan’s Cathedral

€192k grant to preserve two Clare heritage buildings

Well-known Clare heritage sites, St Flannan’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and Frawley’s Bar in Lahinch and have been awarded significant funding to conserve notable historic structures. The sites have been awarded funding for diverse reasons including renewal of timber structures and reinstallation of slates, repairs to buttresses, re-pointing of masonry etc. to prevent serious damage to historic fabric and internal ornate elements. St Flannan’s is to receive €152,000 for significant reslating, repairs to buttresses, repointing of masonry to prevent serious damage to historic fabric and internal ornate elements. Frawley’s meanwhile will receive €40,000 to renew the timber structure, reinstall Blue Bangor slates to the main roof and Liscannor Stone to an outbuilding. A total of €4m was awarded nationwide through the Historic Structures Fund, administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in partnership with the 31 Local Authorities. The announcement follows that of €4m in funding under the Department’s other built heritage grant scheme, the Built Heritage …

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Major plans for historic Clare cathedral

PLANS have been unveiled to transform St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe into a major new community arts and music venue with the projected expenditure of an estimated €500,000 over the next year, writes Dan Danaher. The upgrading of this iconic 13th century building has been described as an “amazing project” by a local conservation architect. Vestry representative, Jonathan Harper, who is a construction quantity surveyor, recalled architectural historian, Dr Judith Hill and Conor Hourigan of Drake Hourigan Architects were appointed to complete a comprehensive conservation plan for development works at the cathedral. This sets out the history of the building and previous renovations and will help the Vestry prioritise a series of renovations over the next five and ten years, subject to funding. Clare County Council assisted the Vestry Committee by processing an application that resulted in the allocation of €50,000 from the Historic Structures’ Fund from the Heritage Section of the Department of the Environment. Former council conservation officer, Dick …

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Norma’s live and kicking for Killaloe cathedral concert

LIKE most entertainers, Norma Manly couldn’t wait to get back to singing in front of a live audience, writes Dan Danaher. The Ballina singer/songwriter had to be content with online performances during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, she feels there is no comparison between performing live and online. “Watching lockdown sessions on line was fantastic. However, you have to be at a live gig to experience the atmosphere and the energy. When I am buying music, I want to listen to live performances. “You can’t beat a live gig. I have met so many people at live gigs who are now lifelong friends. You share a lovely bond, even though people have different tastes. I love being introduced to new music.” She says the return of live audiences is very welcome following Covid-19 restrictions that were previously imposed since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. “When you are singing, you are trying to create something. You can feed off …

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Clare cathedral showcases its concert credentials

SAINT Flannan’s Cathedral will reverberate to the sound of music again this Friday night at 8pm when it hosts a fundraising community concert, writes Dan Danaher. Cathedral Dean, Vicar Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, is very happy to acknowledge the generous voluntary support of all the performers, supporters of the cathedral and wider community. Rev Fitzpatrick said there is no shortage of extraordinary goodwill, talent and commitment towards the cathedral. Rev Fitzpatrick and Dean Rod Smyth were keen to organise an event that would reward local community groups. This follows in the footsteps of a programme of musical evenings that were streamed live from St Flannan’s Cathedral during the month of May thanks to the support of Dean Rod Smyth and Rev Fitzpatrick along with members of the St Flannan’s Vestry. The Sunday Selections proved to be a big hit in the local community. All the proceeds from Friday night’s concert will be donated to the Killaloe Community Enhancement Group and the …

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Killaloe Cathedral could be a ‘light in the economic darkness’

AMBITIOUS PLANS have been unveiled to transform St Flannan’s Cathedral into a “world class” national and international venue for cultural events following a proposed €300,000 investment. State agencies are being asked to support a major refurbishment of this iconic historical protected building as part of the provision of a new downstairs washroom, catering area and upgrading of the vestry, subject to planning permission and funding. The select vestry committee is liaising with Clare and Tipperary County Council on how to increase its use as a cultural and community space. It has engaged conservation architect, Conor Hourigan and historian, Judith Hill to complete a conservation plan for future development. The Dean of the St Flannan’s Cathedral, Roderick Symth and Dean Vicar, Rev Paul Fitzpatrick, are very supportive of plans to increase the use of this iconic building for cultural purposes. They administer clerical duties in the Nenagh Union of Parishes, which now contains the Nenagh and Strabablly group of parishes including …

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Death of Killaloe centenarian

THE death of one of the oldest residents along the banks of Lough Derg evoked a great deal of sympathy in the local community. Dora Benson (102) was one of the centenarians living in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe. Mary (Dora) Benson, who would have been 103 in October, died peacefully at her home in Ballina surrounded by her loving family recently. Born in Grange, Ballina in 1917, nee Clarke, she attended what was known at the time as the Iron School in Killlaloe, which was subsequently closed due to small numbers so she transferred to Ballina National School. She and her sister were sent to live with an uncle and aunt in Adare so she could attend a Church of Ireland national school. At the age of 15, she returned to Grange to look after her mother who wasn’t well at the time. She continued to look after her mother and work on the farm until she …

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Aldi gets approval for Killaloe store

PLANS for the development of a new Killaloe store, which could, it is claimed, generate a projected turnover of €9.12 million in 2019, has been approved by An Bord Pleanála, despite objections from local traders. Welcoming the decision, an Aldi spokesperson said the company believes competition is good for consumers. “Aldi will now move forward with our plans to open a new store in Killaloe, bringing our range of award-winning products at unbeatable prices to the local community. “The opening of every new Aldi store has brought greater choice, quality and value to more and more consumers across Ireland. Since 1999, we have invested €1.2 billion in our store opening programme and, last year, we spent over €700m with Irish suppliers,” the spokesperson continued. “Aldi are engaged in a three-year €100m expansion programme, with plans to open 20 new stores and creating 400 new jobs by the end of 2019.” This was the second time the German multinational submitted plans …

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New Church of Ireland bishop

THE consecration of Rev Canon Dr Kenneth Kearon, the newly-elected Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, will take place at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday, January 24. His enthronement at St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe is scheduled for Saturday, March 7. The new bishop succeeds the Right Rev Trevor Williams, who retired in July. Born in Dublin in 1953, Bishop Kenneth attended Mountjoy School and Trinity College, where he studied philosophy. Following further study at Cambridge and in Dublin, he was ordained a priest in 1982. He served as curate in All Saints, Raheny and St John’s, Coolock before his appointment as Dean of Residence at Trinity College. In 1991, he became rector of Tullow before becoming director of the Irish School of Ecumenics in 1999. He has been a member of the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin since 1995 and has served as its chancellor since 2002. He is author of Medical Ethics: An Introduction and …

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