St Mel’s continues to rise from ashes

Workers from Cregg Stone Ltd setting the marble in place around the new altar in St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, as work on what is believed to be the biggest restoration project in Western Europe continues apace towards conclusion. Each day more steel supports are removed from under the arches and between the pillars, revealing more of the magnificent barrel vaulted ceiling, and the project is well on schedule for reopening in time for Christmas this year following a devastating fire in 2009.