Heritage Buildings

Church of The Immaculate Conception, Rathcormack

Rathcormack Catholic Church was built in 1818 and Canon Michael Leamy wanted to prepare the church for the upcoming bi-centennial celebrations. The main spire had, to his knowledge, never been cleaned and was covered with a heavy layer of biomass, mainly made up of algae, fungus and lichens.

“There is evidence of fine craftsmanship in the exterior detailing of this imposing Gothic-style church. The building occupies a prominent position in the town and is a dominant feature in both the streetscape and surrounding landscape, and forms a natural focal point for Rathcormack.”
Ref: National Inventory Of Architectural Heritage

Limestone and sandstone are the main building materials. The roof is slate tiles with decorative terracotta ridges. These are soft and delicate materials that can be severely damaged by acids, alkalis and traditional cleaning methods of power washing and sand blasting.

The roof was dull and lifeless and the front gates and walls were heavily covered with fungus and lichens.

The headstones in the grounds of the church were also very dirty with the delicate inlaid lead engraving being almost unreadable.

Biocide Softwash was suggested as the preferred method for the cleaning as it is pH neutral and is applied with a very gentle spray. This would ensure that no harm would be done to the fabric of the building.

"I was very impressed with the work carried out by Red Gable Cleaning on our Parish Church in Rathcormac Co. Cork which celebrates its bicentenary later this year. Orla and David used environmentally safe products on the external walls and roof of the church restoring it to its former condition. They were professional, very knowledgeable on the work and materials they were using and very approachable before, during and after the entire process. Orla has since been in touch with a follow up call to check on the work they carried out on the Church."
Canon Michael Leamy

The works were carried out within budget and the agreed timescale.

Mona Hallinan – Conservation Officer with Cork Co.Co was so impressed that she recommended us for the cleaning of Holy Cross Church, Charleville which we have since carried out.

Other Heritage Building work completed