CONSERVATION works are ongoing at Kilmacrennan Old Church and adjacent historic Kilmacrennan Franciscan Friary site.
It is hoped that following completion of the conservation works this historic site can once more become a safe place to visit and to be appreciated both by the local community and by the general public.
The friary was built in 1537 by the clan leader Manus O’Donnell for the Franciscan friars on the site of a previous monastery of the 6th century. It is said that at this early monastery Colmcille was educated in 528.
Earlier this year, Donegal County Council, in partnership with the Kilmacrennan Abbey Preservation Society, received €76,539 for conservation works. It was one of five archaeological monuments in Donegal which received funding.
The necessary works to stabilise the historic structure at the old Abbey and the building at Gartan graveyard are due to be completed before December 7 which marks the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille.
Born in Gartan, Saint Colmcille is one of the most important figures in the story of early Christianity in Ireland. His significance has led to him being chosen as one of the three patron saints of Ireland alongside St Patrick and St Brigid.
The Kilmacrennan Abbey Preservation Society have spent much of the past two decades campaigning for conservation measures to be taken at the local site associated with the saint.
The Council have fenced off the ruins in recent years because they’re unsafe and dangerous.
The conservation works for the Abbey Wall will see the reconstruction of section of the collapsed north wall and temporary support to southeast corner masonry, removal and reinstatement of defective modern masonry.
New stonework to support overhanging collapsing stones at north end of east gable and west end of south wall as well as consolidation of wall heads and exposed wall ends using appropriate materials and techniques informed by mortar analysis are also being planned.
With support from the Community Monuments Fund, a new system for lightning protection is to be installed, vegetation is to be cleared, the walls are to be re-pointed and there will need to be further conservation works at the top of the belfry tower at the Kilmacrennan Old Church of Ireland.
It is also considered possible that masonry from the adjacent 16th century Franciscan Friary was used to build this church and tower.
“An interesting burial vault located in the graveyard will also receive attention. According to Borlase (1897) this burial vault was identified as a possible ‘Dolmen’, however the conservation works and archaeological investigation should help clarify the true nature of the structure.
“The conservation works are being carried out by the dedicated team of Seamus Friel and Sons Ltd (Buncrana) under the supervision of Dedalus Architecture and archaeologist Richard Crumlish. Collette Beattie, Conservation Officer with Donegal County Council is coordinating the project.
report
These works follow on from a Conservation Report on the adjacent Kilmacrennan Franciscan Friary by Dedalus Architecture commissioned by Kilmacrennan Abbey Preservation Society in 2018,” the National Monuments Service said.
Local Councillor Michael McBride visited the site last Saturday.
“The envisaged targets may not have been met due to Covid restrictions but they have managed to preserve the history of the Abbey and old Church building up in Gartan for generations to come.
“They have stabilised the walls and they’ll be able to open the place properly to the public once more,” Cllr McBride said.