See st muredachs cathedral restoration work on irish tv

MAJOR restoration work currently ongoing at St. Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina features on Irish TV's Mayo County Matters this week.

The show aired originally on Tuesday but is repeated today (Thursday, at 3 p.m.) and again on Saturday (September 26, 11 a.m.), and of course you can catch up online 24 hours a day at www.irishtv.ie.

Mayo County Matters presenter Henry McGlade caught up with the restoration work team, which comprises of a large number of skilled craftsmen carrying out work to the highest standard.

“It is a lovely building architecturally, especially inside, where this wonderful ceiling which is now being restored was done in 1841,” said Bishop John Fleming.

“For the year 2000, the roof was replaced and now of course, 15 years later, we have to look at the ceiling. They didn’t know in the year 2000 that the ceiling was as badly decayed as in fact it is.

“The cathedral will be 200 years old in 12 years’ time - we will have the bicentenary. I feel that our generation have a duty to ensure that it’s there in 200 years’ time for the next generations.”

Local craftsman Michael O’Malley from O’Malley & Sons Builders said: “When we took on this, we knew it was a huge task. There were hours sitting in the roof looking at it and trying to figure out how will we do certain tasks, and certain elements were hidden behind the plaster work, and that had to be calculated and figured out before we started doing any work.

“The plan here is that when we leave, nobody will realise what we have done. The amount of effort and detail going in here and then when someone looks up and it is painted, it won’t be seen - but that is the aim of the game.

“To see what those men were able to do and then to come along and use the same techniques replicated again to the same standards that they did and then to leave it looking seamlessly, there is great pride in it.”

George O’Malley, who is originally from Newport and was involved in rebuilding St. Mel's Cathedral in Longford, has taken his skills to Ballina. Reflecting on his career, George said he thought it had been over 40 years since he worked in Mayo. He added: “I believe that Bishop Fleming, in his wisdom, has extended the life of Ballina Cathedral indefinitely.”

Also featuring in this week's show is the visit of the Crystal Palace Academy to Ballina Town Football Club during the summer, as well as fantastic music from the Bofield Comhaltas night in the Fr. Peyton Centre in Attymass and the new charity walk that took place in Castlebar in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and Western Care Association by the name of 'Are You Right There Michael, Are You Right'.

Irish TV can be viewed on Sky channel 191, free to air boxes, Freesat 400, eir’s eVision 191 and online at www.irishtv.ie.