Irish Natural Stone (INStone) and Limerick Civic Trust (LCT) are proud to announce a pioneering collaboration that promises to redefine heritage conservation in Ireland.
This unique association will involve INStone overseeing and managing the restoration and conservation works on LCT’s heritage buildings, whilst incorporating training and education workshops of LCT’s workforce, to upskill them in working with heritage buildings. It will result in the preservation of Ireland’s built heritage while simultaneously placing education at the forefront of conservation efforts. It 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 magnificent conservation works such as the hand carving of the 24 replacement Ionic Capitals and Columns at St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, the restoration and hand carving of the replacement Composite capitals at the Four Courts in Dublin and specialist restoration works within St. John’s Cathedral in Limerick, to name but a few.
The collaboration, which has been carefully developed over the past year, aims to create a sustainable, dynamic partnership between both INStone and the LCT that will revolutionise the restoration and repurposing of historic buildings. By intertwining heritage conservation with vocational training and community engagement, the collaboration aims to safeguard Ireland’s architectural legacy while empowering individuals with valuable, hands-on skills.
The first project under this new partnership will focus on the restoration of St. Munchin’s Church in Limerick, an iconic landmark that holds significant historical and cultural value.
INStone and Limerick Civic Trust will combine expert conservation, project management, and hands-on training to restore St. Munchin’s Church while upskilling LCT’s workforce. This partnership aims to preserve the building’s heritage and ensure its long-term use for the benefit of the local community.
St. Munchin’s Church is an important historical and architectural landmark in Limerick due to its deep-rooted connection to the city’s origins and its striking presence near the River Shannon. Named after St. Munchin, the patron saint of Limerick, the church’s significance lies in its role as one of the city’s earliest religious foundations, reflecting centuries of ecclesiastical history. 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.
Announcing this visionary approach to heritage conservation, Frank McCormack, managing director of INStone said: “At the heart of our initiative is a commitment to preserving the rich cultural heritage embodied in Ireland’s historic structures, found across city centres and rural Ireland. We envision transforming these sites, many of which have fallen into disrepair, into vibrant centres of learning and community activity.”
Welcoming this new and exciting partnership, Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, stated: “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. This not only adds to the cost for owners but also is a missed opportunity for Limerick. This collaboration will make Limerick a national leader in how we can reuse historic buildings, and I congratulate the Limerick Civic Trust and others involved in this great initiative.”
On the importance of education within conservation projects, David O’Brien, CEO of Limerick Civic Trust 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. By leveraging these projects as educational platforms, we will provide opportunities for individuals to gain expertise in heritage restoration, ensuring that the knowledge and skills required to preserve our built environment are passed down to future generations.”
As Ireland continues to focus on preserving its rich architectural and cultural heritage, the collaboration between INStone and Limerick Civic Trust stands out as a visionary initiative. By making education and community engagement central to their approach, they are setting a new standard for how heritage conservation projects are carried out, ensuring that both the buildings and the communities they serve will thrive for years to come.
A Visionary Approach to Heritage Conservation
This collaboration represents a new paradigm in how heritage conservation projects are approached in Ireland. By integrating comprehensive training and educational components into every stage of the restoration process, the partnership ensures that the knowledge and skills necessary for preserving our historic structures are passed on to future generations.
Education at the Heart of Conservation
This collaboration places a strong emphasis on education as a core component of conservation. By using the St. Munchin’s Church project as a training ground, the partnership will equip LCT’s workforce with the advanced skills required for heritage conservation, ensuring the long-term preservation of other sites in LCT’s care.
In addition to training LCT employees, the project has the potential to expand its educational reach. INStone and LCT plan to offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for other conservation professionals, as well as workshops and educational sessions for university and college students, and even the general public. This approach not only preserves the past but also educates and inspires those who will be responsible for safeguarding our heritage in the future.
Benefits for All Stakeholders
This collaboration offers significant benefits across the heritage sector:
For LCT, it enhances the Trust’s capacity to maintain and restore its historic properties, while also upskilling its team and fulfilling its mission to serve the community.
For INStone, it is an opportunity to lead a transformative model of heritage conservation that emphasises education and community involvement, reinforcing its position as a leader in the field.
For the Heritage Sector at Large, this partnership sets a new benchmark for how conservation projects can be approached in Ireland, providing a model that can be replicated at other sites across the country.
For the Local Community, the restored St. Munchin’s Church will not only be preserved as a historical landmark but will also be revitalised to serve contemporary needs, contributing to the social and cultural fabric of the area.
Limerick Civic Trust
Limerick Civic Trust is a self-funding charity, which initiates and undertakes a programme of projects for the general improvements of Limerick’s environment in conjunction with local authorities, state agencies and other interested parties. It is an independent non-profit making voluntary society and is registered as a charity.
Limerick Civic Trust works in conjunction with, members of the public, Government agencies, Limerick City and County Council and with all the sectors of Limerick’s commercial, professional, industrial and community life, all of whom share a common vision of the betterment of Limerick.
The Limerick Civic Trust sees its function as the restoration of architecturally or historically important buildings, bringing them back to be used by others either as a work space or a private dwelling. The Trust also operates a series of training courses in the areas of restoration, conservation and environmental initiatives, all for the betterment of Limerick
Irish Natural Stone (INStone) is a heritage preservation company based in Boston, Tubber Co. Clare. Founded in 1991, INStone’s work strives for the conservation of our heritage landscape for future generations, from the Cultural, Architectural and Archaeological Heritage of Ireland. INStone does this through their conservation works across our built heritage both nationally and internationally – Conservation projects delivered by the Company include the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City, the restoration of the Four Courts in Dublin, St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, St. John’s Cathedral in Limerick, the O’Connell Monument in Ennis, the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation in Phoenix (USA) and Hope House in Bath (UK).
With their skills and expert knowledge in conservation and restoration, INStone have established an academy to upskill and train people in traditional skills and best practice conservation methods and they have worked with bodies such as the Heritage Services within the Office of Public Works, the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme in the King’s Foundation and the Access to Apprenticeship Programme within the Technological University of the Shannon.
*Irish Natural Stone featured in Clare FM’s Atlantic Tales series.