PARISHIONERS are delighted after An Bord Pleanala ruled restoration work on a cathedral can go ahead.The restoration committee of St Mel's Cathedral in Longford, which was gutted by fire on Christmas Day 2009, learned yesterday that the planning authority had rejected an appeal against plans for the second phase of the €30m project.
The second phase of work was given the go-ahead by Longford County Council last November but was appealed to An Bord Pleanala at the beginning of December.
The renovation includes changes to the location of the sanctuary and tabernacle as well as the installation of a lift.
The committee hopes to have a functioning cathedral in time for midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 2014.