Tender issued for renovation works at St Columb’s Park House

It has been welcomed by the Director at St Columb’s park House, Brian Doherty, who said he was “very pleased that it was coming on stream”.

“We are glad that the project continues to be moved along and we are scheduled to have builders on site by the end of September,” he said.

“We are renovating and extending the house, incorporating all the temporary offices, which will all be brought into the main body of the house. All conference rooms that exist will be up-graded and will incorporate audio-visual equipment,” he said adding: “Upstairs we are re-organising the dormitories and they will all have en suite facilities. We are also building an extension at the back to create a kitchen area which meets our catering needs.”

“Although we are undertaking major works, we are seeking to retain the authentic nature of St Columb’s park House, which is a listed building,” he said.

With 15,000 visitors passing through the House last year, and more expected after the renovations are completed due to the improved facilities, Mr Doherty continued: “We estimate that the work will take nine months to complete, and we are negotiating with ILEX about moving our conference facilities into temporary accommodation, and we are hoping to move to one of the buildings on the Ebrington site until the work is completed, while the office staff will be accommodated in portable cabins on the St Columb’s Park House site, which will remain accessible.”

However, Mr Doherty was keen for people to understand that they would still have access to the park and to the play areas during the renovation work, but the ‘Charlie Dimmock’ garden at the front of the house, and the house itself, understandably, would be closed once the heavy plant machinery rolled onto site.

“The site will be closed off and that will include the garden at the front which was remodelled a number of years ago by TV personality Charlie Dimmock. The play area will be open as will the grounds,” he said.

Funding for the project has come from the Department for Social Development and the International Fund for Ireland, with involvement by the City Council in the management processes involved with the project.