Cathedral's historic interior 'at risk' from proposed works

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Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2006 / March 2

The Proposal - Cathal O'Neill & Associates

Proposed changes to the interior of St Colman's Cathedral in Cork could jeopardise the fabric of one of the world's greatest neo-Gothic structures. The claim came on the second day of the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing into the proposed re-arrangement of the interior of the cathedral in Cobh which is the seat of the Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee. The bord ordered the oral hearing at Midleton Park Hotel after a number of parties objected to Cobh Town Council's decision to grant permission for the interior works at the cathedral to the trustees.The town council said it was satisfied the heritage and fabric of the cathedral would not be jeopardised by the interior works though it stipulated a number of conditions on its planning approval. The interior design basically involves removing a number of the front aisles, lifting floor mosaics and extending the altar. Amongst those who objected to that planning decision are the Friends of St Colman's Cathedral, the Irish Georgian Society and the Department of the Environment.

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