Main street survey will aid heritage conservation

Drones will be used to undertake a comprehensive streetscape survey of Kilcullen’s upper main street to assess its heritage value, writes Brian Byrne. The project will gather detailed data on building elevations, streetscape features, roofs, visible services, and chimney stacks. 

A grant application has been submitted to the Heritage Council to help fund the project, part of the Kilcullen Design Principles Initiative and organised by Kilcullen Community Action in collaboration with Kildare County Council. The results will provide a basis for future conservation and enhancement initiatives, supporting grant applications, guiding shopfront treatments, and fostering community engagement with Kilcullen’s heritage. 

Local businesses and property owners have been contacted for permission to carry out the survey, with an overwhelmingly positive response. The initiative will include free condition assessments, with the potential to coordinate repairs where necessary.

"Many older buildings no longer use their fireplaces and flues, and chimneys are beginning to show signs of neglect," says KCA's Noel Clare. "Modern heating systems have blocked or removed flues, and the decline of traditional repair skills contributes to moisture damage, structural issues, and the slow deterioration of these important features. Shared stacks are vulnerable to wind, rain, and changes in neighbouring properties."

The initiative aligns with recent planning and heritage efforts, including the nomination of the upper part of the town as a Candidate Conservation Area. 

The impetus for the project came from the Kilcullen Design Statement commissioned by KCA in 2021 and produced by consultants Paul Hogarth and Company.

Kilcullen c1900. Image: R French, Lawrence Collection.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy