Ivy removal reveals damage to Menlo Castle
From the Galway City Tribune - Ivy removed from the historic Menlo Castle has revealed that some of the walls are in a worse condition than previously feared.
A major refurbishment of the majestic ruin on the banks of the River Corrib has begun and will likely take around three years to complete.
Galway City Heritage Officer Dr Jim Higgins said barriers erected around the popular tourist spot in order to remove the extensive ivy would remain until steel structures could be put in place to stabilise parts of the building.
“Once the ivy came off, we found worse structural things which we will have to sort out. So, we’re going to spend most of the grant from the Community Monuments’ Fund to make it safe and can’t have people wandering around it,” he explained.
“A lot steel work will have to go in and support the walls. Menlo looks fantastic on the exterior but the fire in 1910 caused a lot of damage to the structure.”
This year, a grant of €85,000 was secured to save Menlo Castle from crumbling and conserve it as a picturesque ruin. The project will return the weather sheeting to the slate, repoint the stone and strengthen the walls.
There has to be an archaeologist, ecologist and conservation engineer on site to ensure the work is up to standard and does not interfere with the nests of bats and birds that have taken up residence there.
Unlike Doughiska Castle, the roof will not be rebuilt due to the structure’s poor condition. Terryland, the third castle in the five-year restoration programme, has been brought back to life too but will also remain a roofless ruin.
Public realm plans at each site will be prepared to improve public access, landscape the surrounding areas and erect interpretation boards giving the historical and archaeological backgrounds.
City councillors voted to allocate €100,000 a year for three castles, that will be supplemented by the Community Monuments’ Fund, which also allocated €85,000 between the other two castles for this year.
“We have to make sure we’re in compliance with the National Wildlife Act, the National Monuments Act and the National Planning Act. We have responsibility to employ all the correct experts,” said Dr Higgins.
“They will look an awful lot better, Menlo will look pretty spectacular but it will take time.”