The steeple of the 200-year-old Presentation Convent Church in Fermoy, a familiar landmark in the town’s skyline, needs to be investigated as a matter of urgency as it’s running the risk of collapse, according to a local councillor.
Speaking at the Fermoy Municipal District meeting last week, Cllr Frank O’Flynn called on Cork County Council to “investigate the state of the deterioration of the Presentation Convent Church and steeple, in light of the heritage and history of these buildings.”
Cllr O’Flynn said a planned programme to secure the buildings in the short term, and a full restoration of them in the long term, was needed.
As reported earlier this month by The Avondhu, multiple slates were missing from the steeple roof with concerns locally for the building’s state of repair.
In early 2020, The Avondhu also reported that the roof of the Presentation Convent chapel was due to be examined by an engineer with a view to repairing it.
While as recently as late March 2021, the Diocese of Cloyne confirmed to this newspaper that it was in conversation with Cork County Council regarding how best to proceed, something which would “take time”.
