COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor V. Casserly

"This Area Committee seeks details of works planned on the following heritage sites in Lucan:

1) St. Finian's church ruins and graveyard. 
2) King John's Bridge, Griffeen park.

Specifically:

Date of commencement of works
Works to be carried out
Schedule of future maintenance
Any other relevant information."

REPORT:

1). The Old Church at Esker Glebe is listed as a Protected Structure in the County Development Plan 2016-2022. It is identified as Esker Church and described as a “stone church (Ruin), Monument and Graveyard (RM)”. The RM denotes that it is a recorded monument.

An inspection of the site was undertaken by the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer and the Senior Executive Park Superintendent in January 2018.  The purpose of the inspection was to assess the site with a view to determining the most appropriate course of action for the future maintenance and upkeep of the Protected Structure.

The Church was found to be in a reasonably good condition with no signs to indicate the likelihood of further deterioration or cause for concern.  The graveyard was relatively clean with some isolated items of discarded debris which may have been blown onto the site or dropped by passing visitors.  There were no areas of accumulated dumping or indication that the location is being used for anti-social activities. 

The nature of the site and its naturally managed vegetation, may be the attributing factors to the fact that the site does not suffer from anti-social activities.  It is therefore proposed that intervention in the form of pruning and cutting of vegetation will be limited to enable access but not to open up the area to the potential of inviting unwanted visitors.  Should a demonstrated demand be made for more formal access around the site at a later stage this can be review at the time.

In the meantime all items of litter will be removed.

(2) King John's Bridge, Griffeen Valley Park - Repair and Safeguarding works for King Johns Bridge is proposed under the 300k Projects.  To date a mortar analysis has now been completed which has provided specification with regard to the required materials for proposed conservation works.  A meeting took place on site between the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer and Senior Executive Park Superintendent at the end of January 2018 to discuss further site clearance and vegetation removal.  Due to deep roots which have penetrated the bridge structure further investigation will be required as to how these can be removed safely without causing any damage to the original built fabric.  The Councils Architectural Conservation Officer will seek further advice from the previously engaged conservation engineer in this regard in order to progress a programme of conservation works.