Council backs €3 million development at Ballintubber Abbey

PLANS An artist’s impression of the proposed interpretative centre development at Ballintubber Abbey.

Edwin McGreal

The Castlebar Municipal District of Mayo County Council last week gave its full backing to plans for a €3 million development at Ballintubber Abbey.
The development will consist of a new interpretative and interactive learning centre at the world-famous abbey and is a crucial link on the planned Lost Treasures Trail from Cong to Westport (see article above).
Two members of Ballintubber Abbey Trust, Fr Paddy Gilligan and Con Lydon, gave a presentation to the April meeting of Castlebar Municipal District.
The proposed work at the abbey, with an estimated €3 million cost, includes the construction of a new wing and visitor facilities, including interactive learning displays and conference rooms. The works also include a new lift and fire escape, conservations to the existing roof and partial repairs to cloisters.
Plans for the interpretative centre include as a facility for exploring the pilgrim paths and centres of learning of the medieval ages that contributed to Europe’s Christian identity, heritage and culture.
The centre will also showcase the remarkable history of the 800-year-old Ballintubber Abbey, the story of its decline and loss, its refusal to die and its phased restoration.
The interpretative centre will provide a focal point for information on the ecclesiastical heritage of the abbey and nearby Church Island and Tóchar Padraig. Furthermore, the centre at Ballintubber, being a member of the European Pilgrim Paths and Saint James Way networks, will act as the national point of contact for the issuing of Trail Passports for the entire Irish Pilgrim Paths network.
Fr Gilligan said the abbey had been a ‘pioneer’ in showcasing the potential of tourism in the west of Ireland since its restoration for its 750th anniversary in 1966.
Mr Lydon told councillors that the local community had put in €160,000 to get the development to the planning stage, but that there is a short-term shortfall for design costs.
“It is a huge project. There has been a huge community effort behind it, and we think it has great potential from a tourism and pilgrimage point of view,” he said.
Head of Tourism at Mayo County Council, Padraig Philbin, told the meeting there was a shortfall for design costs which needed to be bridged in order for the substantive funding application to be sought.
He said the tourism potential for the new centre is ‘huge’ and said the ‘full backing’ of the local authority can greatly assist funding applications.
Councillors praised the plans for the project and gave it their full support.
Ballintubber Abbey attracts over 25,000 visitors annually. Founded by the King of Connacht, Cathal Crovdearg O’Conor in 1216, it was occupied by Augustinian Friars until it was burned down in 1653. Restoration of the Abbey has been ongoing since 1846. Religious ceremonies have continued at the abbey, without interruption, for over 800 years.