Victorian-era Letterkenny hospital entrance ‘ready to fall off’ to be demolished

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition and reinstatement of an existing Porte Cochere to the main entrance of Tir Conaill House within the grounds of St Conal’s Hospital in Letterkenny.

Conservation reports highlighted the “poor condition” of the grand entrance to the Victorian-era Tir Conaill House, with the entrance’s columns “found to be ready to fall off” and posing “a serious risk to members of the public and staff using the main entrance.”

Tirconaill House is the two-storey reception building to St Conal’s Hospital complex, situated adjacent to the main vehicular entrance from Kilmacrennan Road.

The current grand entrance’s roof is supported by two concrete columns with decorative bases, and a fluted decoration on the columns topped by faux “Corinthian-type” plaster capitals.

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A conservation report conducted for the Health Service Executive stated: “There was evidence of cracking and spalling of the concrete columns and damage to the decorative concrete fluting, all appearing to be as a result of rainwater seeping through the concrete parapet coping and structure above.”

Parts of the “masonry wall were found to be rotted due to rainwater ingress through cracks and joints in the concrete parapet wall.”

It was recommended that the existing porte cochere be carefully demolished in its entirety and rebuilt in similar detail, including a new lead-roof flat roof.

A new accessible ramp at the front of the entrance was recommended to be constructed, which would involve reorganising the parking around and in front of Tir Conaill House.

Donegal County Council granted permission for the entrance replacement with four conditions, aimed at preserving the amenities of the area and to prevent flooding.