St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford chosen as Ireland’s favourite building – Bannon

Fine Gael Deputy for Longford/Westmeath, James Bannon, today strongly welcomed the news that St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford has been selected as Ireland’s favourite building. The cathedral was rededicated last nonth following extensive renovation works.

“It has been wonderful to see St Mel’s rising like a phoenix from the ashes and restored to its former glory. This award is fitting recognition of the wonderful renovation works carried out on St Mel’s.

“The Cathedral was destroyed following a fire on Christmas morning in 2009. The fire was a huge blow to Longford’s, historical, religious, cultural and architechtural heritage.

“The museum in the Cathedral had displayed 500 important historic and cultural pieces of valuable artefacts which were a record of our unique heritage.

“At the time of the fire we all shared a deep loss of the Cathedral which has been at the heart of Longford town since the 1840s.

“The renovation works that have taken place since then have been a wonderful articulation of community effort and spirit.

“St Mel’s beat off significant competition from other shortlisted projects including the Rosie Hackett bridge in central Dublin and Dun Laoghaire library building in Dublin.”
ENDS