Specialised staff and equipment will begin work at St Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney this week in an attempt to access the full extent of the damage caused to the building during Storm Éowyn.
Given the height of the building - standing at 85ft tall, it has not been possible yet to determine just how much damage has been caused to the roof after strong winds blew a large amount of slates from the roof-top and damaged eave shoots.
The damage to the roof has led to water entering certain parts of the church, causing interior damage, and the recent weather, including heavy rainfall, has caused great concern to the Diocese of Kerry.
Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien said he made the concerning discovery on Saturday morning as he went to open the church.
“There was damage done to the roof and the rain came and that compounded the damage. There was water coming in in lots of places,” he said.
“We had repaired the roof last year and we had hoped it would withstand the storm but it didn’t.”
He said they have no idea just how badly damaged it is as they cannot see the roof from the ground and this Thursday, January 30, a specialised crew and equipment will arrive on site to carry out detailed investigations.
“We are only looking at it from the ground right now, so we don’t know yet what damage there is.”
“It will be a costly job… there is sizeable damage done,” he said but he said it is only structural and can be repaired. In the interim, sections of the church are sealed off due to damage but it remains open and services are continuing as normal – and will do so unless it is deemed unsafe.
Fr O’Brien said it is vital that the works are carried out as soon as possible as the church is at the ‘mercy of the elements’ and further wind or rain could lead to even more damage.