Specialist restorer to visit Carrick-on-Suir to carry out repairs on historic town clock
The clocks hands stopped working again after work carried out to remove three feet of bird droppings from lantern access hatch
This was the update District Administrator Marie Cox gave on the project to restore the well-known West Gate landmark at Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District's April meeting in Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall.
Repair works carried out last year succeeded in restoring three of the clock's faces to working order telling the time once again for the town's people as they went about their daily business.
But Cllr Kieran Bourke highlighted at the District meeting that the clock has stopped working again and local people have asking him for a date when works on the clock will resume.
Mr Cox explained to councillors that work was carried out to remove three feet of bird droppings from the access hatch to the clock's lantern, which were restricting access to the lantern.
After this work was carried out, she said it was reported that the clock’s hands had stopped moving. The time is currently frozen at 10.30.
She informed The Nationalist the removal of the bird droppings was necessary as safe and hygenic access was required to the clock lantern in order to restore the chime and work on restoring the lantern's wooden louvred panels. The lantern is located at the very top of the clock tower.
Ms Cox said the specialist clock restorer and a contractor are due to start work on the clock in the coming weeks.
The Council has secured €10,000 funding under the latest round of the Built of the Heritage Investment Grant Scheme to repair and refurbish the clock lantern's louvres.
Last year the Council received a €9,000 Built Heritage Investment Grant for the clock's restoration and invested a further €10,000 from its own coffers in the project.
Works ranging from removal of damaging vegetation from the parapet masonry, re-bedding of cap stones and pointing of damaged or missing mortar joints to repair of leadwork and removal of the build up of bird droppings already mentioned.
Carrick-on-Suir Town Clock is privately owned and the Council had to secure permission from its owner in order to carry out the repairs and renovations.
It was erected in 1784 and is one of the town’s most iconic structures.
The clock is a recorded monument in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, classified as being of regional importance and of special archaeological, architectural, historical and social interest.