The overall cost of repairs to the tower of one of the country’s most famous cathedrals comes to more than €107,000, it has been revealed this week. Rainey and Co., steeplejack firm, has estimated costs to St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy to come in at over €95,000, along with a further contingency figure of €12,000.
These figures exclude architect fees, which will add between an additional €3,000 €6,000.
Grants obtained to date towards the costs from the Co. Council and Irish Heritage Council amount to some €50,000 in total.
The figures were released at the weekend in the weekly parish newsletter.
The original damage to the tower (pictured) came earlier this year when a piece of granite became displaced from the area beneath the giant clock.
Preliminary examination at the time also uncovered further deterioration of both stonework and metalwork.
However the tower of the highest Pugin-designed Gothic structure in Ireland as well as the main body of the building are unaffected and structurally sound.
The building itself is constructed in dressed local stone ,including stone from the nearby ruined Franciscan Friary salvaged in between 1843 and 1847.
The cathedral was also chosen by RTE for its televised Easter ceremony broadcasts in 2008.
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