Conservation Work Completed At Day Place

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Conservation Officer with Kerry County Council Victoria McCarthy with Diarmuid Dineen of Ned O’Shea Construction (Main Contractors) and Niall Healy of John Casey and Company (Project Managers & Quantity Surveyors) at Day Place on Friday. Photo by Dermot Crean

THIS week, one of Tralee’s finest architectural gems, the Georgian terrace at Day Place, saw the completion of a substantial programme of investment, thanks to funding from the Heritage Council, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the building owners.

Kerry County Council applied for funding to the Heritage Council this year under the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI).

This grant scheme aims to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ireland’s historic townsand priority is given to projects that are ‘plan-led’ and likely to make a meaningful contribution to the heritage-led regeneration of the town.

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Kerry was allocated an award of €307,600 towards conservation work of properties on Denny Street and Day Place, Tralee.

Since 2017, Kerry County Council and the Tralee Chamber Alliance have worked together to highlight the built heritage of the town.

In 2017 and 2018 the Chamber Alliance received funding from the Heritage Council and Kerry County Council to deliver the Denny Street seminars and workshops which aimed to begin a conversation around the condition of the town’s built heritage, conservation and the challenges of using these buildings.

A similar project followed in 2019 for Day Place, Tralee, led by Kerry County Council which included practical conservation workshops.

Condition surveys completed for both streets by Jack Coughlan Architects highlighted the need for a programme of investment in the historic railings and limestone steps and walls which run to the front of the buildings, forming a prominent edge to the public footpath.

Kerry County Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer Victoria McCarthy is delighted to see the projects at Denny Street and Day Place completed and wished to highlight the quality of the work carried out to conserve Tralee’s fine architectural heritage.

“Without the support of the owners and the dedication of the craftspeople involved, this project would not be a success.  This project shows that our old buildings are capable of repair, are highly adaptable and are a significant resource to help regenerate our urban spaces.  The project is the culmination of years of working with owners, the Chamber Alliance, conservation professionals and crafts people; a true example of community heritage-led regeneration.  I am confident the conservation work will protect Tralee’s fine Georgian buildings for another 200 years,” she said.

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Terry O’Brien is also delighted to see the completion of the project and to see the impact of the conservation work on the wider Tralee community: ‘This is a wonderful addition to the streetscape in the town and I commend all of those involved for contributing to its completion.”