Irish Monuments | National Geographic

over centuries the Irish built a rich

over centuries the Irish built a rich heritage of castles and monuments using

heritage of castles and monuments using

heritage of castles and monuments using an abundance of local stone now many of

an abundance of local stone now many of

an abundance of local stone now many of the structures are damaged the stone is

the structures are damaged the stone is

the structures are damaged the stone is decaying thanks in part to Ireland’s

decaying thanks in part to Ireland’s

decaying thanks in part to Ireland’s notoriously damp weather these sites are

notoriously damp weather these sites are

notoriously damp weather these sites are in danger of disappearing entirely this

in danger of disappearing entirely this

in danger of disappearing entirely this Tower in western county galway is all

Tower in western county galway is all

Tower in western county galway is all that’s left of what was once a fortress

that’s left of what was once a fortress

that’s left of what was once a fortress the family that’s owned it for

the family that’s owned it for

the family that’s owned it for generations now faces a one and a half

generations now faces a one and a half

generations now faces a one and a half million dollar restoration bill and

million dollar restoration bill and

million dollar restoration bill and grants from the state will cover only 2%

grants from the state will cover only 2%

grants from the state will cover only 2% of that the psyche is often the ocean

of that the psyche is often the ocean

of that the psyche is often the ocean yeah and doesn’t come pint is really

yeah and doesn’t come pint is really

yeah and doesn’t come pint is really making 32,000 you were available for

making 32,000 you were available for

making 32,000 you were available for something that’s estimated it’ll cost a

something that’s estimated it’ll cost a

something that’s estimated it’ll cost a million pounds and delays and financing

million pounds and delays and financing

million pounds and delays and financing only need more time for nature to erode

only need more time for nature to erode

only need more time for nature to erode and nation’s treasures at the

and nation’s treasures at the

and nation’s treasures at the state-owned religious site of Kwan

state-owned religious site of Kwan

state-owned religious site of Kwan makhno Z architects have replaced two

makhno Z architects have replaced two

makhno Z architects have replaced two historic stone crosses with replicas

historic stone crosses with replicas

historic stone crosses with replicas putting the originals away to protect

putting the originals away to protect

putting the originals away to protect them from further erosion they recently

them from further erosion they recently

them from further erosion they recently put a whole church under wraps but this

put a whole church under wraps but this

put a whole church under wraps but this kind of protection is costly and

kind of protection is costly and

kind of protection is costly and impossible on a wide scale heritage

impossible on a wide scale heritage

impossible on a wide scale heritage Council report suggests that there could

Council report suggests that there could

Council report suggests that there could be a more practical way we will have to

be a more practical way we will have to

be a more practical way we will have to keep working to see what other methods

keep working to see what other methods

keep working to see what other methods of intervention can be brought in into

of intervention can be brought in into

of intervention can be brought in into place it will never stop decay but at

place it will never stop decay but at

place it will never stop decay but at least it may hopefully arrest

stopping the decay is the goal of

stopping the decay is the goal of conservationists nurturing the clon firt

conservationists nurturing the clon firt

conservationists nurturing the clon firt cathedral the church itself can’t afford

cathedral the church itself can’t afford

cathedral the church itself can’t afford to replace the open water joints where

to replace the open water joints where

to replace the open water joints where water has entered and caused major

water has entered and caused major

water has entered and caused major deterioration in the sandstone so a

deterioration in the sandstone so a

deterioration in the sandstone so a heritage Council grant has helped start

heritage Council grant has helped start

heritage Council grant has helped start restoration work on this 12th century

restoration work on this 12th century

restoration work on this 12th century Romanesque doorway getting some leaching

Romanesque doorway getting some leaching

Romanesque doorway getting some leaching from this one some previous restorations

from this one some previous restorations

from this one some previous restorations have done more harm than good we have

have done more harm than good we have

have done more harm than good we have here evidence of mortar

here evidence of mortar

here evidence of mortar repairs which contain Portland cement an

repairs which contain Portland cement an

repairs which contain Portland cement an ingredient used in concrete and mortars

ingredient used in concrete and mortars

ingredient used in concrete and mortars has accelerated structural damage to

has accelerated structural damage to

has accelerated structural damage to many stones in a race against the

many stones in a race against the

many stones in a race against the elements masons are now replacing it

elements masons are now replacing it

elements masons are now replacing it with a better line based mortar some

with a better line based mortar some

with a better line based mortar some architects are worried about cheap and

architects are worried about cheap and

architects are worried about cheap and untested alternatives but government

untested alternatives but government

untested alternatives but government grants for restoration projects are

grants for restoration projects are

grants for restoration projects are scarce the Heritage Council says that

scarce the Heritage Council says that

scarce the Heritage Council says that without new methods and new sources of

without new methods and new sources of

without new methods and new sources of money a vital part of Irish culture will

money a vital part of Irish culture will

money a vital part of Irish culture will simply crumble away