OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan visited Headford on Tuesday to visit new OPW offices in Headford as well as Ross Errilly Franciscan Friary which dates well back before the 1400s.
County Councillor Andrew Reddington explained to the Minister while visiting the Abbey that it is in desperate need of emergency works and it was essential that the Minister brought this back to his department.
The last time any major works were carried out there by the OPW was in the mid 1980s and it is falling into disrepair, with the tower being the main area of concern.
There has never been any serious remedial work done on the tower and there has never been scaffolding put up around the outside of it to deal with the exterior of the tower.
A group of TDs and councillors explained to Minister O’Donovan that there is no electricity at the Abbey or any toilet facilities for visiting tourists.
The nearest electrical pole is only 200 metres away, meaning it would not be difficult to get electricity to the abbey.
Cllr Reddington thanked Glen Corbett and Seamus Mchugh who gave a detailed run down of emergency works needed at the abbey.
The delegation then joined OPW officials and Finna Construction who gave us a tour of the OPW offices in Headford a five million euro investment for Headford.
The Ministers also confirmed that works on the Garda Station in Headford are due to start shortly.
