Westport House Tour Phase 1

Westport House is one of the most important 18th century country houses and demesnes on the western seaboard. The tour will focus on the diagnosis of the water ingress issues and subsequent repair of the external fabric, including roof and chimney works (inaccessible for the tour), leadwork, external elevations, early 20th century western terraces. Works were completed in April 2022.

Guide; Joanne Curran PhD

Joanne is an associate in Consarc. She is a project manager on a range of conservation projects throughout Ireland and the UK. She is a geologist and provides specialist advice and materials testing and maintains research links with Queen’s University, Belfast. She is co-author of ‘Stone by Stone: A Guide to Building Stone in the Northern Ireland Environment’. Joanne is current chair of the IHBC, Northern Ireland.

Consarc Conservation is a specialist Grade 1 Accredited conservation department within Consarc Design Group.

Tickets FREE

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Mayo County Council’s Architectural Conservation Office supports works to promote the repair and re-use of historic structures.

Traditional joinery conservation works funded under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme form part of this year’s conservation and repair project at the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage, Ballyglass.

Mark Stephens, MRIAI Architect, Accredited in Conservation at Grade 3 will discuss his approach to the repair and conservation of the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage in 2022 and outline the specialist joiner’s approach to the repair of sliding sash windows. 

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out a roadmap for Ireland’s transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy. This shift to a climate neutral future means that the conservation and repurposing of existing historic building stock has become increasingly more important. Increased maintenance and repair will be key to building resilience in our historic buildings to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment.

FREE, pre-booking required

Blacksod Lighthouse (Fód Dubh) located at Blacksod Bay at the southern end of the Mullet Peninsula was erected to a design by John Swan Sloane for the Ballast Board. It remains a navigational aid since 1866 and continues to function as a fuelling base for search and rescue helicopters.

 Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile (CFID) will provide guided tours of the lighthouse. Learn about the other lighthouses of Erris, understand how the keepers of Blacksod Lighthouse changed the course of World War 2 and see the artefacts once used to keep the iconic light in sequence for those at sea. In the lantern room, observe the magnificent Fresnel lens which has been in operation for over 150 years.

Tours will focus on the architectural and engineering aspects of the lighthouse and the wider village surrounds, keeper's dwellings, Coast Guard station and boathouse, Nimmo Pier, Planned Transatlantic port and rail terminus, Road and Bridge building, International export from Blacksod Quarry.

 Some points to note before your visit

Children must be over 1.2m tall to climb the tower. Smaller children can still visit if accompanied by a guardian in the lower levels of the lighthouse.
Your electronic receipt must be shown to a member of our team upon your arrival. They will then show you the way!
You must arrive 10 minutes before your tour. Later arrival could mean you miss your slot.
We are contact tracing. It is important you fill out a contact tracing sheet upon arrival.
This historic lighthouse still functions today and as a result CFID retains the right to cancel/reschedule your tour at any time to facilitate essential operations within the lighthouse.
Please wear sensible footwear. High heels are not permitted within the building nor are flip flops.

Pre-booking essential

In support of the Town Centres First policy set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020), the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) in Ballina is a joint undertaking by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Heritage Council and Mayo County Council’s Architectural Conservation Office, which aims to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ballina. 

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out a roadmap for Ireland’s transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy. This shift to a climate neutral future means that the conservation and repurposing of existing historic building stock has become increasingly more important. Increased maintenance and repair will be key to building resilience in our historic buildings and towns to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment.

Masonry and lime-based conservation works funded under HTI 2022 form part of this year’s conservation and repair project at Belleek Gate Lodge. Cunningham Civil & Marine Ltd. will outline the specialist stone mason’s approach to the reinstatement of the cut-stone and the lime mortar mixing.   

Siobhán Sexton, Conservation Architect and Architectural Conservation Officer for Mayo will outline the methodologies applied to the conservation and repair of the gate lodge.

Peter Conway, Project Manager at Cunningham Civil & Marine Ltd. will lead the demonstration and discuss the contractor’s approach to the cut-stone masonry and lime mortar pointing.

FREE, pre-booking available

In support of the Town Centres First policy set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020), the Historic Structures Fund and Mayo County Council’s Architectural Conservation Office supports works to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ballina. 

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets out a roadmap for Ireland’s transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich and climate neutral economy. This shift to a climate neutral future means that the conservation and repurposing of existing historic building stock has become increasingly more important. Increased maintenance and repair will be key to building resilience in our historic buildings and towns to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment. 

Traditional joinery conservation works funded under the Historic Structures Fund form part of this year’s conservation and repair project at Conlon’s House, Ballina. Carrabine Joinery Ltd. will outline the specialist joiner’s approach to the repair of sliding sash windows. 

Unfortunately -Due to unforeseen circumstances this event had to be cancelled.