A NEW collaboration between Irish Natural Stone (INStone) and Limerick Civic Trust (LCT) will ensure not just the preservation of important heritage buildings, but will also that more people will learn the skills necessary to conserve them.
The unique association will involve INStone overseeing restoration works on LCT’s heritage buildings, while incorporating workshops for LCT’s workforce to upskill them in working with heritage buildings.
The team-up aligns directly with one of the key themes in Ireland’s national heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030, the importance of collaboration in caring for Ireland’s shared heritage buildings.
This follows on from some of INStone’s conservation works locally, including at St John’s Cathedral.
The first project under this new partnership will focus on the restoration of St Munchin’s Church, an iconic landmark that holds significant historical and cultural value as one of the city’s earliest religious foundations.
Architecturally, its stonework and design are representative of Limerick’s medieval heritage, making it a key site for those interested in the preservation of Ireland’s built history.
Welcoming this the partnership, Mayor John Moran said that “taking better care of our built heritage is a must for Limerick. But even though we have so many great buildings all around us, as I know personally, too often we no longer have the required skills locally.”
David O’Brien, Limerick Civic Trust CEO said: “Our approach is rooted in the belief that conservation is not only about maintaining the past, but about engaging the present and investing in the future generations.”
