Belturbet to preserve town remains in glass act

Seamus Enright

Medieval remains dating back to the foundation of Belturbet town are to be preserved under glass-topped casing for future generations to inspect.
The move comes after Cavan County Council instructed contractors working on refurbishing Belturbet Town Hall to include it in the overall plans.
The Anglo-Celt first reported back in May of this year that, following an excavation of the site behind the town’s main building, the town hall, early 16th Century stone remains, believed among the first foundations laid in the town, had been unearthed.
Led by Belturbet native Michael Drumm and his heritage consultancy services company, Wolfhound Archaeology, they made several new and fascinating discoveries about the origins from which the town was built.
These included foundation stone at two levels, and while all was recorded meticulously for future historical purposes, the county council has now moved to preserve the oldest remains in a more permanent, visual way.

Glass act

Contractors McCauley Construction of Cootehill began work on the three-metre by one-metre wide steel frame boxed, which will encase the remains.
A hard, glass covering will top this allowing for members of the public to view the foundation remains as discovered.
The cost of the work, it is understood, has been incorporated into the overall cost associated with the ongoing refurbishment and extension of the town hall, which includes a new library facility on the ground floor and a community and resource facility on the first floor.
The town hall building, a protected structure, was constructed in 1928 by Cavan architect James O’Reilly on the site of an earlier building, a post-medieval market hall, the origins of which are understood to go back to around 1613, when Sir Stephen Butler was first granted rights to build a town there.

Future

As part of the rights bestowed to Butler under the Plantation of Ulster, he was allowed to host a market twice a week and a fair on occasions throughout the year.
Acting Town Manager John Brannigan told The Celt: “As part of the works and archaeological find here, an analysis was carried out to see how best we could preserve what was found and how people could then view it in the future
“A number of options were considered but the ability to integrate the cost of work into what is already going on here was key factor.
“It is something the Council feels is unique, it’s a worthwhile effort and it leaves something of value that is tangible for future generations to engage with.”
Cathaoirleach Barry Wilson was absolutely delighted with the news, delivered to members of the town council at their July monthly meeting.
“Its another string to our bow,” he said. “What has been identified here in Belturbet is a plethora of artefacts, which go back to the very origins of this town.
“At the end of the day, it’s about thinking outside the box to make sure we don’t lose something that is inherently valuable to us as people of this town and we are very grateful to Cavan County Council for their understanding on that.”
He added that the addition would further act as a tourist focal point in the town.
“While every town is looking for something to sell itself on, what Belturbet has over and above all others is its deep heritage, which is here to be seen, not just at the town hall site but right throughout the surrounding area,” he said.
A coin as well as brick work tempered with iron slag, believed to be an early type of brick associated with the region, will go on display in the library once refurbishment works are completed and the building reopened.