Cavan town abbey closed due to structural defects

The Franciscan Abbey in Cavan Town has been closed with immediate effect due to health and safety concerns.
A statement from Cavan County Council says that the closure of the oldest structure in the county is due to “defects” on the tower itself.
“Cavan County Council wish to advise that they have closed with immediate effect public access to the Franciscan Abbey Park on Abbey Street, for reasons of health and safety.
“As a caretaker of one of our historic sites, we take our duty of care seriously and while carrying out routine maintenance work in the Old Abbey graveyard, structural defects were noted on a masonry boundary wall and on the tower itself.
“We are currently waiting on a report from a conservation architect before any preventative maintenance works can commence. From a safety aspect we feel it important to close the park and we would ask for the public’s cooperation in this matter,” a spokesperson said.

The abbey had been the location for a sensory garden project and recently was added to a list of historical sites for the walking history tour of the town.