Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton has welcomed the announcement of €20,000 funding for St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Youghal. This grant, allocated to Cork County Council, will be used for urgent conservation works.
“I am pleased that this funding has been awarded for emergency works on the College Garden Boundary Wall at St Mary’s Collegiate Church. The Church is one of the oldest churches still in use in the country and occupies a site which has been used for religious worship since early Christian times.
“The boundary wall itself dates from the early 17th Century and is part of an important protected structure and recorded monument. The wall requires emergency stabilisation works and, as it borders a public road in Youghal, has had to be cordoned off by Cork County Council. I am hopeful that the funding allocated by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage an Gaeltacht will allow for the necessary works to be completed and protect the wall against further deterioration”, said Deputy Stanton.
“This €20,000 funding comes in addition to the €60,000 allocated in June this year for conservation on the Church itself and will ensure that this magnificent building will remain a valuable asset, not just to the people of Youghal who worship there, but also as a tourist attraction as it is such a fine example of our national built heritage.
