Displaying items by tag: Joyce Tower

9th April 2014

Damp Puts Damper On Joyce Tower Museum Plans

#DublinBay - James Joyce scholars have received some unwelcome news with a new report finding that the Joyce Tower in Sandycove unsuitable for storing a first edition of the author's most famed work Ulysses, among other delicate materials.

According to the Irish Independent, the report commissioned by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has identified that the seaside Martello tower in Sandycove - which featured prominently in Ulysses, and is due to reopen shortly following months of renovations - is unsuitable for housing rare papers due to damp conditions.

The news comes as a blow to Joyceans and the county council alike, the latter after investing more than €200,000 in the building to convert it and its present museum into what's expected to be a major tourist attraction.

The Irish Independent has more on the story HERE.

Update 10/4: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has since posted an update on the Joyce Tower renovations, claiming that recent news reports were based on incomplete information.

"The reported problem with damp in the tower was identified as an issue by the council in its first discussions with Fáilte Ireland and was also noted in the consultants report," the statements reads.

"Since the museum consultant's visit to the tower last year, Fáilte Ireland has been carrying out work on the conservation of the tower which we believe has addressed many of the structural issues, some of which related to the ingress of water and damp.

"The museum consultant who produced the report had not revisited the Tower following the works and therefore had not taken them into account in his report."

The full DLRCoCo statement can be read HERE.

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About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.