Conservation
We welcome the conservation objectives and the emphasis given to the archaeology of the area.
4.2.4
We welcome the proposal to develop a Conservation Plan for the heritage structures onsite but would like to see it expanded to incorporate the entire site if the excavation works on other parts of the site (referred to in Section 4.2.3) justify it.
There is a multiplicity of stakeholders interested in the Archaeology e.g. KCC, Heritage Council, KAS, OPW, NMS, Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Developers, Archaeologists and Citizens. We recommend the establishment of an Advisory Committee to liaise with the stakeholders, and to advise on the archaeological excavations, the development of the Conservation Plan and the implementation of conservation and repair of the heritage structures.
We recommend the development of a Centralized Digital Archive for past and future archaeology at this site as mooted by Courtney Deery, Heritage Consultancy. There is a danger that archaeological reports produced for individual developments on site will get buried in planning applications. KCC already have a Heritage Page (under Services) which could be given more prominence and could temporarily host a portal to the archaeological archive. Eventually it would be desirable to develop a Museum in Kilkenny which would be a centre for technical conservation and would store, curate, display and interpret archaeological objects for the entire city. Such a museum (perhaps at St Marys or on this site) could eventually host the Digital Archive. We know there are financial constraints but a historic city like Kilkenny should have a museum.
It would be advisable to determine in advance what uses the Brewhouse will attract, as this is the critical issue in the ongoing conservation of restored buildings. Perhaps consideration should be given to providing social / sporting facilities for the future residents of the community housing plot, see Section 5.3, Stage 3, which currently shows no provision for them.