GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - Siobhan Madden
Siobhan Madden, Co. Cork is a GLAS 3 participant who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to adjoining 200 year old buildings. Enda Maloney, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For the next three days Teagasc Daily will focus on Co Cork participants of this scheme
Siobhan Madden, Co. Cork is a GLAS 3 participant who received funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Heritage Council managed Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to adjoining 200 year old buildings.
The limestone buildings dating from 1820-1830 were constructed with stone from a quarry on the farm. Incidentally, the building of local Churches in the parish i.e Liscarroll and Churchtown benefited from similar stone in the quarry.
Building Repairs
The buildings comprise of a barn, loft (formerly grain store ), tack room, feed house and 2 stables. The buildings in question had been very well maintained over the years and were generally in good working condition, however, the Grant Scheme allowed for deep structural pointing in lime mortar be carried out on the front and rear of the upper building. The upper building having had raised stonework carried out in 1900-1910 to the level of the slated building.
Masonry has been built up above the doorways / lintels. A stone facade was installed using a matching stone and a suitable NHL 3.5 mortar.
The use of NHL 3.5 lime mortar was an excellent choice for matching and a weak lime mix of NHL 2 in the case of selected areas of patch-pointing.
Graded and washed sharp sand used throughout.
The upper building benefited from intensive roof repairs, however, the slate roof on the adjoining lower building required minimum intervention - approx 20 salvaged slates were required to match in colour gauge and size - these slates had in former life donned a roof in UCC and were sourced by the contractor Conor Kelleher.
The unique arches (3) are great feature's on the buildings and are in view from the road-way. The arches did not require any remedial works and are in excellent condition both inside and outside which further compliments the skill of the masons and labourers who were involved in the initial construction of the buildings.
The lower gable - west facing required the verges to be reinforced with lead soakers. Remedial works had been undertaken to this gable in 1980.
A lime render was applied to a section of the rear of the lower building in an area which had been previously built up in concrete blockwork. This lime render masks the concrete blocks and adds a traditional feature to the building.
Role of Heritage Conservation Specialists
Siobhan Madden employed the services of Southgate Associates, Heritage Conservation Specialists based in Midleton, Co Cork to supervise the project from start to finish. Conor Kelleher Ltd, Dripsey, Co Cork was the chosen contractor for the project.
Funding by way of the Grant Scheme from The Heritage Council was acknowledged by the participant and was the deciding factor in the commencement of the project.
Role of Teagasc
In addition, Teagasc Advisors Enda Maloney Kanturk and Eimear Connery Middleton played key roles with the initial information of the Grants Scheme and for the encouragement to submit an application. The historic buildings blend in well in this Community, this is a good fertile limestone region and is well known for the raising of thoroughbred horses. The Madden family have been breeding and raising thoroughbred horses for generations enjoying notable success at Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown etc.
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
Three additional articles will follow on Cork farmers: 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