Two historic cottages which were destined for dereliction have been painstakingly restored and are to become an important tourist attraction in Clonegal, Co Carlow.
Restoration of the weavers' cottages in Clonegal is one of a number of major environmental projects being overseen by Carlow Town and County Amenity Trust, a recently-established partnership between local authorities, State agencies and the private sector.
The cottages, built in 1690, came close to destruction. A dereliction order was being processed by Carlow County Council when the council's conservation officer, Ms Mairead Phelan, intervened and suggested the buildings might be restored.
The council secured funding under the urban and village renewal scheme and, with the Keep Clonegal Tidy Committee on board as partners, the project got under way last year. The cottages, the only two of the original six still standing, had been derelict since the 1940s.
Local people were trained to take on the restoration work, which Ms Phelan described as "slow and intricate". Considerable progress has been made, however, and the work is to be completed in time for Duchas heritage week in September.
One of the buildings is to be an arts and crafts centre and the other will be available as a residence for artists in all disciplines, but particularly designers who would wish to use the spinning wheel and loom made especially for the project by Carlow wood turner Kieran McCarthy.
Mr David Kelly, chief executive of the amenity trust told members of Carlow Urban District Council last week that conservation of the cottages was of prime importance and would add to Carlow's tourism potential.
The objectives of the trust, he explained, included the promotion and management of parks, gardens, trails, walks and amenities of all kinds and the conservation of buildings of artistic distinction or historic interest. Maximising the potential of riverside areas was another key element of the trust's work.
To this end, major improvements are planned for walks and amenities by the rivers Barrow and Burrin, including the upgrading of pathways, rebuilding of stone walls and the provision of additional seating.
Another project under way is an upgrading of the social facilities for young people and the elderly in the New Oak Estate, the largest concentration of local authority housing in Carlow town.
Landscaping the railway side of the park and linking it to amenity areas along the River Burrin is one of the improvements to be carried out in consultation with the local community.
The projects are being carried out with the aid of the jobs initiative scheme, a FAS pilot programme for long-term unemployed persons.