Another ‘Historic’ success for Ballyshannon and Donegal

The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative and Donegal County Council have scooped another prestigious national award at last night’s 2022 KPMG Irish Independent Property Industry Excellence Awards.

The Donegal shortlisted entry was declared the joint winner along with Donegal Town based McCabe Architects for their Sligo Town "Lyons Mill" project (beside Lidl) in the Community & Heritage section.

The ‘Excellence in Industry’ awards in the Convention Centre, Dublin saw the Historic Towns Initiative 2021 on the Mall and Upper Main Street, Ballyshannon earn the Heritage and Community award.

It follows on from their recent success of another history related project on the Mall area at the National Heritage Awards.

The beautiful award which will have a new home in Ballyshannon

Commenting on the great win, Ballyshannon based Cllr Barry Sweeny said: “Congratulations to all involved, Donegal County Council, the property owners involved, the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, Dedalus Architecture and joint winners McCabe Architecture.”

Speaking of the Ballyshannon project, Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer said:.

“The Community & Heritage Award recognises projects that involve the local community in the re-use, conservation and preservation of our historic buildings or in designing public realm schemes that complement the historic built environment.

“Twelve historic buildings along The Mall and the Manor House on Upper Main Street in Ballyshannon benefitted under the Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative in 2021. “Conservation works undertaken included roof and chimney repairs, addressing structural issues, installation of cast-iron rainwater goods, reinstatement of timber sash windows and doors, repair of traditional hand-painted signage, meanwhile use of three vacant shopfronts and the repair and reinstatement of historic shopfronts informed by best conservation practice and historical evidence.

Remarking on the quality of the shortlisted entries Jim Clery, Partner, Head of Real Estate at KPMG said: “The variety of exceptional projects undertaken during Covid times is impressive. We’ve seen a large focus on environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG), regeneration and digitalisation, and judged over 120 entries.”

In the Community & Heritage Award the nominees along with the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group and Donegal County Council were McCabe Architects for their work on Lyons Mill in Sligo’s Docklands as well as Honan Chapel conservation at UCC by FNP architects; and the restoration of Bellgree Community Garden, Tyrrellstown in Dublin by Glenveagh.

Condon House, The Mall, Ballyshannon - after conservation works. Photo Joseph Gallagher

The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative was a partnership between Donegal County Council, Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, Dedalus Architecture, local property owners, The Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.