Heather Humphreys T.D. Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht at the opening of the restored wing of Townley Hall, Drogheda, Co. Louth Sunday, 1pm, 15 February, 2015
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
I am delighted to be here at Townley Hall today and I thank all of you for the warm welcome I have received.
It gives me great honour to be invited here to unveil the restored wing of this magnificent building.
This restoration is a tribute to the genius of its creator Francis Johnston, the architect of some of Ireland’s most iconic buildings including the GPO and St George’s Church in Dublin.
Here at Townley Hall, in this beautiful demesne overlooking one of our World Heritage Sites (Brú na Bóinne) and the site of the Battle of the Boyne, Francis Johnston built for the Townley-Balfours what is regarded by many as his greatest masterpiece.
In 1948, the architectural historian Christopher Hussey wrote of Townley Hall’s dramatic stair hall:
“I would dare to say that there is nothing lovelier than this rotunda in the Georgian architecture of the British Isles. Merely to let the eye range over the photograph is a delight. The senses are smoothed and abstracted, almost hypnotized by the endless curving movement – yet not made giddy, for, except when looked at vertically upwards, none of the curves is continuous.”
So captivating is this stairway that the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage of my Department chose an image of this domed stair hall for the cover image of their publication ‘An Introduction to the Architectural Heritage of Co. Louth’.
The NIAH have rated Townley Hall of national significance.
The house was built from local Sheephouse limestone in the eighteenth century, and I am glad to see that over 200 years later, the renovation employed skilled local stonemasons to carve the new stone – thus continuing the link with the area.
My Department wants to preserve these traditional skills.
Through pilot initiatives and in partnership with local authorities, other Government Departments and agencies, my Department is working to reverse the decline in the use of these crafts and skills.
I feel strongly that Ireland’s unique heritage has an important role to play in contributing to our economic recovery and in supporting sustainable employment in the heritage and conservation sectors.
Last year 175 jobs for skilled conservation professionals, craft workers and tradespeople were generated by the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme operated by my Department.
This scheme supported the conservation and repair of over 540 historic structures and unlocked over €10 million in private investment.
Meanwhile, I was pleased to announce this week €624,000 in funding for the protection and upgrading of heritage buildings under the Structures at Risk Fund in 2015.
This fund will be used to safeguard protected structures and structures within Architectural Conservation Areas and will encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties which might otherwise be lost.
Townley Hall is an excellent example of how local organisations, owners of heritage properties, conservation professionals, local authorities and Government Departments can work together to achieve a successful outcome.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the role of the project architects (MVK Architects) and conservation architect (Richard McLoughlin of LOTTS Architecture), and the skilled contractors who carried out the conservation repair works.
I am delighted that officials from my Department played an active role in supporting this project on such a nationally significant building.
Since 2012 my Department has reviewed 240 applications for heritage projects seeking LEADER funding under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013.
Once the 2014-2020 RDP programme is finalised, I hope my Department will be in a position to continue to provide such support going forward.
Since the 1950s Townley Hall has been synonymous with education and development and as a place of retreat and cultural endeavour.
I am heartened to see that it continues to be provided for use by the wider local community and for artistic and cultural events and activities.
A building of such architectural beauty should be enjoyed by all.
Ownership of an historic building may bring its challenges, however, the rewards are many.
An historic building like Townley Hall are a tangible symbol of a community’s commitment in honouring its heritage and importantly providing a sense of place.
In closing I wish to congratulate the School of Philosophy on securing the future of this historic house for its members and the wider community and I wish you well with your future phases of its restoration.
I now have the honour of officially declaring this restored wing open.
ENDS
