Plans to have St Mel's Cathedral open for Christmas Eve Mass in 2014,
just five years after the Cathedral's interior was gutted in a fire,
remain on track this week after builders received planning permission to
go-ahead with the re-development plans subject to certain conditions.Last April a local architect lodged an appeal against Longford Town Council's decision to grant permission for works relating to the construction of a new roof and concrete sub-floor.
In its decision announced this week, the An Bórd Pleanála conditions stated that there should be a glue-laminated roof structure, which is a structural timber product composed of several layers of dimensioned lumber glued together.
This was one of the detailed options put forward by back in January of this year, when the St Mel's Diocesan Trust lodged the application.
Speaking this week on Shannonside FM, the chairman of the St Mel's Cathedral Project Committee Seamus Butler said the committee felt vindicated by the decision.
“It's very timely. We were hoping the appeal would not be kicked on down the road. We feel it was an unnecessary appeal; there was a little bit of a hold -up but work has not been held up.”
He added, “A 30-day notice to begin work will be erected in the coming days. Work has already begun on site in relation to Section 57 works in the Cathedral, which will see the replacement of the limestone columns and pilasters with like for like replacements. This did not require planning permission.”
Mr Butler also confirmed, “A separate planning application relating to the interior of the cathedral was lodged last month with Longford Town Council and is pending a decision.”
Currently Saint Mary's Church in Athlone is serving as the interim cathedral for the diocese of Clonmacnois and the Bishop's Chair has been placed in the sanctuary there.
It is hoped to return it to St Mel's cathedral in Longford for Christmas Eve in 2014.