“harsh and craggy pile of Scottish-Tudor stone”

Members of the Presbyterian Mutual Society probably have other things on their minds right now, but the not-completely-independent Northern Ireland Environment Agency has awarded the “single biggest grant award ever given under the Historic Buildings Grant Aid Scheme for repairs to listed buildings” to Church House in Belfast’s Fisherwick Place, the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, originally built in 1905, renovated in 1992 – Church awarded £1million to repair HQ. Meanwhile, the 12th Century Athassel Abbey in County Tipperary, listed as one of the 100 most endangered world cultural heritage sites in 2004, now has a conservation plan commissioned by the Republic of Ireland’s Office of Public Works (OPW).. but it’s reported that junior minister Martin Mansergh has warned that limited finances may dictate the pace of work..

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