Ministers across Ireland have praised the completion of landmark renovations at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Representing the most significant scheme in over 150 years at the cathedral, the Roof Conservation project saw the replacement of roof slates, gutters and walkways, as well as the repair of masonry, glazing and carpentry, and upgrades to essential fire protection systems.

Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, The Very Revd Dr William Morton says this project will secure the 800-year-old medieval building for generations to come.

Crucial support for the €9.4 million project came from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage totalling €1.2 million, including grant aid under its Historic Structures Fund. The Department’s most recent support, in December of last year, ensured work on the roof could continue through the winter, when it was most at risk from the elements, and also in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions at that time.

Ministers O'Brien and Noonan visited the Cathedral in December of last year, and were delighted to return nine months later to assess the completed works.

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Speaking in the garden of The Deanery today, Friday 17 September, Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, TD, said: "On behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I am delighted to be able to join in the celebrations marking the completion of this huge and vitally important work at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The Government is committed to safeguarding Ireland’s heritage for future generations and my Department was pleased to able to support the restoration works at this nationally important building."

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD commented: "It is wonderful to see the works at Saint Patrick's Cathedral completed. Today is a celebration of the culmination of two years’ hard and highly-skilled work, made all the more challenging by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department was delighted to support these works through its Historic Structures Fund, which provides assistance to owners of protected structures across Ireland to care for their historic properties."

Speaking at the event, the Dean added: "The support of €1.2m from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to the roof project of Saint Patrick's Cathedral was essential to its successful completion. This hugely appreciated donation from Government has ensured that the Cathedral is conserved and continues to serve as one of Ireland's top listed buildings in terms of heritage and culture in the widest sense - ecclesiastically, musically, architecturally, and economically. It also ensures the Cathedral is a Dublin destination ever-increasing in popularity, regularly in the higher regions of visitors' 'must see' lists. I wish to offer my deepest thanks to Minister Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State in his Department, Malcolm Noonan."

The event marked the end of a two-year conservation project, which included the replacement of more than 14,000 roof slates.