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Mitchelstown Heritage Society has expressed its opposition to a planning application from the Mitchelstown Parish seeking permission to demolish the town’s former Christian Brothers’ monastery.

Mitchelstown Heritage Society has expressed its opposition to a planning application from the Mitchelstown Parish seeking permission to demolish the town's former Christian Brothers' monastery. The monastery, which was built for the Brothers in the late 1850s, has been described by the society as a 'significantly important historical and cultural building that should be restored rather than demolished'.

Chairman, Andrew Dineen has voiced the heritage society's serious concerns over the application. "Neglect of the building by its owners has led to vandalism and disuse. These are not good enough reasons to destroy our built heritage," he said.

"The monastery forms an important architectural line of ecclesiastical buildings along the eastern skyline of the town," Andrew explains. "This began with the building of the Catholic Church in 1833, then the convent in 1854, the parochial house around the same time and was completed with the construction of the monastery in 1857."

Andrew went on to highlight the long history of the building. The 154 year old monastery, which for most of its history also served as a boys' school, was built under the supervision of Brother Louis Yorke, who famously taught the inventor of the submarine. Pupil numbers were over 400 in their early years, growing increasingly in the generations that followed.

In the 1990s, the people of Mitchelstown were shocked and moved to action when it emerged that the area was about to lose the remaining Brothers, dwindling numbers of vocations and the costs of maintaining communities took their effect. A local action committee made up of Bill Power, Dick Lillis, Paddy Tobin, Patricia Hanley, John Ryan and others, managed to negotiate a brief stay of execution. Finally in 1998, Br Healy, Br O'Brien and Br Tracey left Mitchelstown. The building has remained idle since then and no effort has been made to keep it in good repair.

"Vandalism, neglect and disuse has seen the old Convent and Monastery buildings brought to the brink of destruction. This tragedy is further exacerbated as these buildings were built by the people of Mitchelstown in a period of great poverty," Andrew said.

Mitchelstown Heritage Society acknowledges the practicalities of the situation, immediate safety concerns and the costs of securing the buildings present real challenges. "But demolition is not the answer," Andrew said, stressing that 'repair and restoration ought to be seriously considered rather than the expediency of demolition'.

Mr Dineen stated that the Heritage Society recognises the safety concerns of the parish and is looking to engage with all parties involved, working with the parish priest, the schools and Cork County Council to try and secure the monastery for future generations.

"We believe that an appropriate use can be found for the building which would add to the existing schools and local community needs. It's a question of finding an appropriate use for it.

"Historic Buildings are full of character and superb quality, the kind you don't get anymore," said Mr Dineen.

"Demolition of historic buildings, whether they are protected structures or not, should always the option of last resort."

Considering the monastery has been allowed to fall into this condition for almost 20 years, the heritage society argues that the rush to demolish now is 'short-sighted'.

"We have lost a lot of Mitchelstown's built heritage over recent years and it's appalling to think that no other future is being considered for this building. We were surprised and very disappointed to hear what was being proposed."

For Mitchelstown Heritage Society the proposed demolition of the monastery represents a line in the sand. Drawing similarities between the monastery and the ongoing debacle over the condition of the Presentation Convent, Mr Dineen states: "If an argument can be made for demolishing our monastery because of its condition, what is to stop a similar decision being taken on the Convent?"

The Heritage Society has campaigned for the last three years to save the Presentation Convent which is suffering from similar problems of neglect and abandonment. The lamentable condition of these similar buildings has been the subject of prolonged legal issues. In the meantime, the buildings are allowed fall into further decay so that, it would appear, demolition is the cheap and easy option.

"This is bad policy for the town and future generations will not thank us for letting these places disappear from the landscape. Mitchelstown Heritage Society is making a submission to Cork County Council opposing the Monastery demolition, encouraging concerned citizens to support this and working together find a future for our endangered heritage," Mr Dineen concluded.

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