Refurbishment and electrical upgrade of 19th Century rural chapel

Location  Maynooth, Co Kildare
Sector  Heritage
Year Completed  2004

Architect  Brady Shipman Martin Architects

Location  Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Sector  Churches
Value  €400,000
Year Completed  2001
Client St. Mary’s Parish, Maynooth

Architect  Brady Shipman Martin Architects
Engineers  Delap & Waller

Lissadell undertook the internal refurbishment and redecoration of this parish church in Maynooth, which included works to the altar and to the ceiling artwork, full mechanical and electrical works complete with new sound system. External works involved partial repointing and hard landscaping.

Between 1980 and 1999, Lissadell carried out a variety of works at the Pro Cathedral, including extensive dry rot elimination, fitting of new a lighting system and refurbishment of the celebrated church organ. Lissadell also carried out reinstatement works following fire damage including complete internal redecoration and restoration of artwork to the ceiling.

Later works included refurbishment and stabilisation of clerestory lead windows and external raking out, repointing and cleaning of the stone walls.

Location  Marlborough Street, Dublin
Sector  Heritage
Year Completed  2000
Client Dublin Arch Diocese

Architect  Scott Tallon Walker
Engineers  Arup

Newman University Church is a well-known city centre landmark and Protected Structure on St. Stephen’s Green. Dating from the 1860’s, the church required upgrade works including new underfloor heating, new lighting and various repairs and alterations.

Two new 3m diameter coronas were hung from winches installed in the attic space to provide new lighting features.

The clay floor tiles were lifted and cleaned. The floor was excavated to facilitate the underfloor heating system. The salvaged floor tiles were re-used and replacement clay tiles were sourced by Lissadell from yards in the UK. The excavation of the floor and new floor construction was extremely difficult given the city centre location on a busy thoroghfare. Transportation of materials had to be undertaken via the front door onto St. Stephen’s Green.

New and refurbished joinery was installed with universal access ironmongery. A new disabled access platform lift was installed in the front foyer.

Protection of existing features was a significant issue during the project, in particular where heavy plant was used in the excavation of the floors. Marble-clad walls were protected, marble altars, pulpits and also the numerous columns were all similarly treated during the works.

• Access and storage were challenges – with little space available around the church, which opens directly onto one of the city’s busiest streets.
• The programme of works was extremely tight. The church was closed between New Year and Easter and had to be handed back by the end of March to facilitate a number of scheduled weddings.
• Existing radiators were hung on brackets through the marble-clad walls. The origin of the marble was from all corners of Ireland and these repairs had to blend in with specially sourced red, green, black and brown marble from each of the four Povinces.
• A new hidden water tank within an existing steel one

Location  St Stephens Green, Dublin 2
Sector  Heritage
Year Completed  2012
Client Dublin Diocese

Architect  Paul Arnold Architects
Engineers  Barrett Mahony Consulting Engineers
Quantity Surveyors  Brendan Merry & Partners

St. Paul’s Church, Glenageary first opened its doors in 1868.  It was reported in the Daily Express at the time and described as follows:

“The church of St Paul is of the gothic style of architecture and although not large, is extremely tasteful and imposing.  The building measures 101 ft. 6 in. internally by 35 ft. 6 inches wide and 55 ft. 6 inches high to the ridge.  It comprises a Nave and Chancel measuring 18 ft. 6 inches by 21 ft.  It is in the Decorative style and has at the south west corner a tower and spire raising to a height of 120 ft. to the top of the iron Finial. 

The aim of this project was to carry out works necessary to protect and preserve the building fabric as well as the renewal of the heating and electrical installations, and ensuring compliance of the building with Safety and Building Regulations.

The project required the restoration of the stained-glass windows, installation of secondary glazing, repair and replacement of Caen stone traceries as well as stone pointing and repairs generally.

Slate roof repair and replacement was carried out along with reinstatement of copper valleys and new lead cappings. Mechanical and electrical services were upgraded along with various joinery works. Structural strengthening was undertaken within the attic space where secondary rafters were introduced and steel plates fitted to strengthen purlins. New battens were installed to strengthen the ceiling panels. Repair works were carried out to the bells including refurbishment of the clappers and replacement of hangers and supports. Specialist ironwork repairs to finials were also undertaken.

• A specifically designed scaffold was required to reach the top of the 53m high spire.
• The repaired iron finial was replaced by mobile crane to the very top of the spire.
• The scaffold also wrapped around the exterior perimeter of the building to facilitate stonework, slating and stained glass window repair.
• The entire church had to be scaffolded with a birdcage internally to access the attic space and for decoration
• The church organ remained in situ and was protected during the works while the atmosphere within the enclosure was checked by daily monitoring of the air temperature.

Location  Adelaide Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
Sector  Heritage / Churches
Value  €1M
Surface  800 m²
Year Completed  2013
Client St. Paul’s Select Vestry

Architect  Scott Tallon Walker
Engineers  Doherty Finnegan Kelly
Quantity Surveyors  Davis Langdon