Hidden heritage gems in the heart of Kilkenny to receive a new lease of life

Saint Francis Abbey, Evan’s Turret and St Francis Well are set to receive a new lease of life under the Abbey Quarter Conservation Plan.

An expert conservation team has been appointed to spearhead the plan and they are being steered by Kilkenny County Council, the Office of Public Works and the National Monuments Service.

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Senior Engineer at Kilkenny County Council, Tony Lauhoff, furnished details of the plan at Monday's meeting of city and county councillors.

Lauhoff explained that the conservation efforts will be 'built upon the archaeological test excavations' at the site.

Evan's Turret, a tower that formed part of the original city walls, has remained mostly unexplored by the public up until now.

Possible future public access to the turret is being looked into with the possibility of utilising it as viewing platform but further research will be conducted to test if such an idea is viable.

Little remains now of St Francis Well but documents cite Smithwick’s Brewery using the water from the well for brewing purposes until the early 1900s. It was also known as a popular bathing spot.

It's planned to mark the location of the well in a bid to recognise its heritage value, possibly with a water feature.

In relation to the iconic St Francis Abbey, plans are being put forward to lay down paving to reflect the below-ground archaeology of the building.

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A new use is also being sought for the sacristy area, and work will be conducted with the OPW on that.

Tony Lauhoff explained that the operation of the brewery had not been 'sympathetic to the structures' on the site.

Cllr John Coonan described the plan as an important step in ‘saving the historic fabric of the city’ which had been ‘hidden and neglected for years’.

Cllr Maria Dollard stated that Kilkenny Archeological Society raised concerns around the funding for the planned works and sought guarantees that it would be completed in full.

Lauhoff stated that the funding to undertake the work will be received on a phased basis but that full completion of works is envisioned, as far as the plan allows.