Stonemason, Seamus Doherty, left and Builder, John (Eddie) Doherty, right, selecting stones
The Carrickabraghy Restoration Society was formed to save the castle, stabilise it and preserve it as a ruin. Initial reports commissioned from an engineer, an archaeologist and a conservation architect indicate that remedial work was urgently needed in order to avoid complete collapse of the remaining structure. These experts prepared a detailed specification which guided the Society’s work.
A grant towards the conservation work was offered by Inishowen Development Partnership under the National Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 but the Carrickabraghy Restoration Society who have to date raised almost €20,000 still have to raise another €20,000.
Although the Carrickabraghy site and the castle was secured and the preparatory archaeological excavation carried out in autumn 2012, work had to be suspended during the winter months and did not resume until the end of April 2013. However in recent months great progress has been made on the conservation work – walls stabilised, loose stones secured and the pointing of the structure using lime mortar almost completed.
The stabilisation of the O Doherty castle should be completed by the end of Septemeber 2013. The conserved physical remains of part of Inishowen and O Doherty heritage and history will have been saved from collapse and will stand proudly for future generations.
Click on any image to launch the slideshow, there are more images available here
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- Project Archaeologist, Richard Crumlish taking measurements for site report.
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- South face of Carrickabraghy Castle with scaffolding
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- Project Archaeologist, Richard Crumlish examining south wall of keep before making site drawings.
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- Builder John (Eddie) Doherty and David McLaughlin making safe the south wall before archaeological investigation.
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- From left: Frank Donnelly, Senior Architectural Advisor, Dept. of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht (DAHG), Celine Walsh, Archaeologist, National Monuments Service (DAHG), Pauline Gleeson, Senior Archaeologist, National Monuments Service (DAHG), Joe (Denary) Doherty, Carrickabraghy Committee, Paul Doherty, Consulting Engineer and Project Manager, Duncan McLaren, Conservation Architect and Richard Crumlish, Project Archaeologist.
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- South east elevation of the castle with scaffolding – let the conservation work begin (weather permitting)!
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- Carrickabraghy castle under scaffolding, with Malin Head in the background
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- Ongoing conservation work with the blow-hole in full spate
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- Before Conservation
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- North side looking South
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- South wall repointed and masonry reinstated
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- Top Left, Danny Noone – Top Right, Charlie Doherty- Bottom – Seamus Doherty, right and John (Eddie) Doherty, left
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- Seamus and John manhandling stone for west wall
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- John (Eddie) Doherty inspecting stonework on the tower
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- Seamus Doherty working on reinstated lintel and doorway in the east wall of the keep
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- Charlie Doherty taking a well earned rest from cleaning masonry
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- Work-to-date – 21.06.13
