A dilapidated Galway church and national monument from the 19th century is set to be restored to its former glory.
St Brigid’s Church in Portumna is due to undergo restoration works as part of a major project taking place over three phases, planning to start in March.
The works are being carried out by restoration workers from That Old House Ireland, who offer self catering travel experiences in old, renovated Irish houses.
That Old House Ireland have said that they will be working with the planning office and local town leaders to identify the best use for the church in its “next phase of life”.
The church dates back to the 19th century
The church dates back to 1825 and is listed as a national monument, meaning that the restoration team will be working closely with the county heritage officer on the Gothic building.
Sharing photos and video footage of the exterior and interior of the church on social media, That Old House Ireland said this was the “perfect projec”’ for restoration.
The post read: “Located in beautiful Portumna, County Galway the church was built around 1825 by donation of the Earl of Clanricarde, Portumna Castle (or so I’m told). The church is in a T-plan Gothic style with beautiful, yet simple ornamentation. This proud building has fallen into severe dereliction over the past several years which means it’s a perfect project for us.
“Protected for its architectural heritage, it is also listed as a national monument which means we’ll be working closely with the county heritage officer and a conservation engineer to ensure we honor its history during restoration.
“Locally known as the old parish hall, several people have shared stories of enjoying gymnastics, basketball and other games in the old church when they were young.
“This project will go through 3 phases, hopefully commencing in March, as we have ministerial approval for essential repairs, but will also need input from the county’s conservation officer.
“Phase one will focus on repairs to the roof, windows/doors and structure to make it water tight. And while we are doing this, we’ll be working with the planning office and local town leaders to identify the best use for the church in its next phase of life.”