Historic restored church scoops second UK award

The intricate marble work at the newly refurbished St Patrick’s Church, Donaghmore, which was created and fitted by the manufacturer Armatile, has won the ‘Commercial Contract’ category in the UK Tile Awards.

Highlights include an altar floor made from polished Crema Marfil and nine floor features in Carrara marble slabs surrounded by a border depicting vines and leaves in Sienna, Rojo Alicante and Alpi Verdi marbles.

The eighteen month-long facelift and extensive refurbishment of the church, which was completed last September, was also a contender for the prestigious Royal British Institute of Surveyors’ Building Conservation Award.

Pomeroy-based QMAC construction carried out the work on the 170 year-old church. During the upheaval the church was completely stripped out, the existing floors removed and the walls replastered with traditional lime mortar. Iron pipe-work was installed along with cast iron radiators in keeping with the character of the original church and a new and up to date heating system was installed.

Other highlights of the work, which are the fourth major renovations in the church’s history, included a facelift of the stone exterior, the demolition and rebuilding of the sacristy, committee room, boiler house and toilets, stained glass restoration, new plaster moulding and lowering the floors. The stained glass windows in the sanctuary were also beautifully restored.