Work to conserve seven historic properties in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, is moving close to completion.

The Historic Towns Initiative on Church Lane includes roof and chimney repairs, installation of cast-iron rainwater goods, reinstatement of timber sash windows and doors, application of lime render or lime pointing, and the repair of a historic shopfront using traditional materials and informed by best conservation practice.

These works are funded by The Heritage Council, Donegal County Council and the private landowners.

Members of The Heritage Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht visited project partners to view progress on the projects.

"The partnership between the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter, Donegal County Council, Dedalus Architecture and private landowners established under the Historic Towns Initiative has worked very well," explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer. "This collaborative way of working has provided us with mechanisms that facilitate heritage-led regeneration in our towns and villages and encourage greater community cohesion. The project has also encouraged greater cross-directorate cooperation within Donegal County Council as the Conservation Office within the Community Development and Planning Directorate and the Heritage Office within the Housing, Corporate and Culture Directorate were joint project leaders. The successful approach adopted for Church Lane can be applied elsewhere."

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Collette Beattie, Conservation Officer, Donegal County Council, added: "The Historic Towns Initiative builds on several community-led initiatives instigated by the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter as well as the designation of the Ecclesiastical Architectural Conservation Area under the Letterkenny Local Area Plan. Initiatives such as the 'Save the Church Lane' campaign started in January 2014, the Heritage Streets Alive project in 2015, the Church Lane Conservation Plan in 2016 and the Collaborative Town Centre Health Check in 2018 established strong community support and strong evidence-based support for the heritage-led regeneration of Church Lane. The Historic Towns Initiative has benefitted immensely from the voluntary and dynamic approach of the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Committee, the grade one conservation expertise of Dedalus Architecture and the shared vision of the property owners."

The conservation works on Church Lane are expected to be completed later this month.

(CM/MH)