Conference Focuses On Conserving And Restoring Ireland's Historic Buildings

BOSTON, Ireland - Aug. 24, 2023 - PRLog -- Conservation and heritage experts from academia, government, local government and the private sector will hear about the urgent need to improve the skills needed to conserve and restore Ireland's historic buildings at a daylong conference in Boston, County Clare, on Wednesday September 6th.

The event is being hosted by Burren-based Irish Natural Stone (INStone), the company responsible for delivering the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City, the restoration of the Four Courts in Dublin, St. Mel's Cathedral in Longford, St. John's Cathedral in Limerick, the O'Connell Monument in Ennis, the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation in Phoenix (USA) and Hope House in Bath (UK).

Organiser Frank McCormack, Founder and Director of Irish Natural Stone, said a key focus of next week's conference will be to highlight the urgent need to educate public bodies about bringing vernacular buildings and derelict housing back into use in "a proper and correct manner with sensitivity towards their heritage aspect, using natural materials."

Among the topics being discussed at the conference will be 'Understanding Carbon in the Built Environment' by Peter Cox (FRSA) of Carrig Conservation; 'Craftsmanship in Stone - CRAFTVALUE – IRC Advanced Laureate Project, by TCD's Professor Christine Casey, Dr Andrew Tierney and Dr Melanie Hayes; 'STONEBUILT IRELAND Research Project, by TCD's Professor Patrick Wyse Jackson & Dr Louise Caulfield; 'The ethics and ethos of Architectural Sculpture Conservation' by leading restorative carver, Alan Micklethwaite; 'FABTRADS – Moisture and Thermal Properties of a Range of Irish Stones and In-Situ U-Values of Stone walls' by UCD's Dr Rosanne Walker; 'National Vernacular Strategy' by Barry O'Reilly of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage; 'All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme' by Hugh Kavanagh of The Princes Foundation; and 'Preservation of the Historical and Heritage Value of our Historical Burial Grounds and Graveyards' by Dr John Treacy of Clare County Council's Burial Grounds Division.

Visit http://www.irishnaturalstone.com for more on the first National INStone Symposium at on Wednesday September 6th.