ICE AWARD WINNERS

Fergal Mc Namara, 7L Architects, Laurik Mathieu, Mathieu & Mitchell & Marie Mannion presented Abbeygormican to a panel of judges at Irish Construction Excellence Award Interview 27/02/2025

Ann Marie Cusack, Architectural Conservation Officer, Claire Breen, NMS, Tom Mitchell, Mathieu & Mitchell Ltd; Cllr Martina Kinane, Cathaoirleach, GCC, Cllr. Geraldine Donohue, Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer & Bernie Doherty, Galway Community Archaeologist at Awards Ceremony May 1st 2025. Everyone looking splendid in black tie and evening wear.

Ann Marie Cusack, Architectural Conservation Officer, Claire Breen, NMS, Tom Mitchell, Mathieu & Mitchell Ltd; Cllr Martina Kinane, Cathhaoirleach, GCC, Cllr. Geraldine Donohue, Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer & Bernie Doherty, Galway Community Archaeologist at Awards Ceremony May 1st 2025

Cllr. Geraldine Donohue (nee Mitchell) & Tom Mitchell, Mathieu & Mitchell Ltd.

Bernie Doherty, Community Archaeologist; John Britton, Structural Engineer; Cllr Martina Kinane, Cathhaoirleach Galway County Council, Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer and Claire Breen, National Monuments Service.

Bernie Doherty, Community Archaeologist; John Britton, Structural Engineer; Cllr. Martina Kinane, Cathaoirleach Galway County Council, Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer and Claire Breen, National Monuments Service.

Claire Breen, NMS; Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Martina Kinanne, Cathaoirleach, Galway County Council and Bernie Doherty, Galway Community Archaeologist with the Judges' Silver Award for Abbeygormican

Irish construction Excellence Awards Finalist

The ICE Awards Judges selected the 2025 Finalists from a record number of entries registered for the season. The winners were announced at the ICE Awards Gala Event on 1st May 2025 in the Convention Centre Dublin.

Abbeygormican Conservation Works

Mathieu & Mitchell, Abbeygormican Cemetery Group and Galway County Council received the 2025 Judges’ Silver Award for Abbeygormican Church Conservation Works.

Galway County Council owned site at Abbeygormican is a recently conserved Augustinian Friary. It is an amalgam of C12th, C15th and C17th architecture within an earlier ecclesiastical enclosure. Abbeygormican was one of five projects shortlisted under the Public Building Category.

Heritage Professionals Involved with the project:

Contractor: Mathieu & Mitchell Limited.

Client: Abbeygormican Cemetery Group & Galway County Council
Architect: 7L Architects
Engineer: John Britton Consulting

Consultant Archaeologists: Moore Group & Martin Fitzpatrick, Thrutime.

Ecologists: MKO Ltd.

Augustinian Friary

Abbeygormican showcases the recently conserved Augustinian friary, an amalgam of C12th., C15th. & C17th architecture within an earlier ecclesiastical site. Located within a graveyard, this sensitive monument required urgent repairs to ensure safe access for burials and prevent further deterioration of the medieval church exposed to the elements.

Team Effort

Conservation works were carried out in collaboration with Galway County Community Archaeology Project, Galway County Heritage Office, Galway County Council, the local community, and the National Monuments Service, and guided by a Conservation and Management Plan prepared by a multidiscipline team. Dependent on annual grant funding through The Community Monuments Funds, works were carried out in three phases under challenging weather conditions and time constraints, adhering to Wildlife Acts, National Monuments Legislation and ICOMOS Standards.

The site, now accessible, features visible medieval elements. Abbeygormican is a lesson in perseverance, commitment and pride. Crumbling masonry did not deter the contractor’s perseverance in preserving the piscina, conserving the ivy-clad transept chapel, supporting the Hannon Tomb, and stabilising the transept and chancel walls.

Community Monuments Funded Projects in County Galway

The Community Monuments Fund is granted through The National Monuments Service, Department of Housing , Local Government and Heritage and administered through local authorities.

Links showcasing Community Monuments Fund projects within the County of Galway from previous years is available below

Community Monuments Funds Projects 2020

Community Monuments Funds Projects 2021

Community Monuments Funds Projects 2022

Community Monuments Funds Projects 2023

Community Monuments Funds Projects 2024