Roof repairs due at St. Aidan’s Cathedral

By Dan Walsh

A planned programme of maintenance is essential at St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy, and Michael Ormonde, Chairman of St. Aidan’s Parish Finance Committee is advising the public in this weekend’s Parish Newsletter.

“As is expected in a building of its age the need for maintenance is ongoing. Parishioners will have noticed, for example, the need to collect the rainwater at the alter during the recent rainy weather.

“Responsibility for managing this problem lies with the Parish Finance Committee and we are aware of the many issues involved. During 2025 our architects, Mahon & Fox, have been surveying the Cathedral and their findings have made clear that we need a planned programme of maintenance to prepare the Cathedral for the decades ahead.

“Indeed, it was largely the need for this work that prompted the sale of the Manse last year. We are now embarking on the next stage of this project. Teams have been engaged to do the detailed surveys and planning necessary to begin work on a building of the Cathedral’s age and importance.

“This will cover the roof and rainwater fixtures, mechanical and electrical, integrity of structural elements and the stained glass windows. Parishioners will see these teams working on site in the coming weeks. This work will also include machinery to access the roof and steeple and detailed camera surveys in the grounds. We plan to make the findings of this work available to everyone once it is to hand.

“We hope this preparatory work will not inconvenience parishioners as they come and go, but in any event the duration will be quite short. We ask for your co-operation and assistance as we start this important project.”

HISTORY; £1 million was raised in 1994 when St. Aidan’s Cathedral was restored to near its original design when authentic colours, materials and techniques were used to include painted arches and a dark blue ceiling above white walls.

The restoration programme took a year to complete during which time the cathedral services were facilitated in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland.