GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - John & Margaret Murphy
John & Margaret Murphy, Co. Cork are GLAS participants who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to an old stone outbuilding on the farm. Eimear Connery, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For the past four days Teagasc Daily focused on Co Cork participants of this scheme
John & Margaret Murphy are farming on the Cork side of the village of Rathmore on the Cork/Kerry border. They are currently participants in GLAS and therefore were eligible to apply for the Heritage Council grant for Traditional Farm Buildings which is funded by the Department of Agriculture.
Building repairs
The main body of work required to this building was repairs to the roof. Some repointing of stonework was also carried out. A bat & bird survey was completed by a local ecologist but no bats or birds were present in the building so work was allowed to proceed during the summer months. The building now complete is a fantastic addition to the visual heritage of the area and adds greatly to the local landscape.
Left: Before repairs to the building took place. Right: During building works & roof repairs.
Role of Heritage Council
The Murphy family very much appreciate the funding received from the DAFM through the Heritage Council (Anna Meenan) and also the work of Cork based conservation consultancy Southgate & Associates and builder Conor Kelleher. Without the funding from the DAFM, which is administered through the Heritage Council, this building, along with many more that have been grant aided through this scheme would continue to deteriorate in condition leading to a great loss of our valued heritage and link to the past which is irreplaceable. The value of buildings like the one on the Murphy farm is priceless in terms of the history & heritage value it holds. These buildings are priceless and hugely valuable connecting our past & present lives.
Views of farm building after work was completed.
Role of Teagasc
In addition, Teagasc Advisors Eimear Connery Middleton and Enda Maloney Kanturk played key roles with the initial information of the Grants Scheme and for the encouragement to submit an application.
The Scheme closes on Monday 5th April and application must be made online to the Heriatge Council. More on the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme can be found here. See Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine Press Release here
This is the final article in a series of four, on Cork farmers who availed of the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme. There are four focus articles in this Series in total as follows:
- Siobhán Madden on Thursday 11th March
- Kevin Wood on Friday 12th March
- Tom O'Neill on Saturday 13th March and
- John & Margaret Murphy on Sunday 14th March 2021 here on Teagasc Daily.