Eircom antennae approved for Athy church tower
St Michael's Church Towed
COMMUNICATIONS from St Michael’s Church in Athy are going to be a bit more secular with the news that Eircom has got permission to install antennae, a dish, and associated equipment in the bell tower of this protected structure.
However, with its protected status in mind, all the equipment will be hidden from public view internally, with only a single Global Positioning System (GPS) on the outside.
This singular device weighs just 400g (<1lb), and measures 109 by 120mm (4.3” x 4.7”).
Because of the nature of the required signals in the future, the mesh over the tower opening – installed to keep out our feathered friends – will be replaced with a Radio Frequency (RF)-friendly mesh to allow a cleaner passage of message.
The equipment, which includes remote radio units, an electronics cabinet along with the dish and antennae, will be located towards the top of the Tower at approximately 29m.
The planners at Kildare County Council obviously gave the historical nature of this building a lot of thought, and it took them over eight months to finally give this project the green light.
And even then the council still had to demand Further Information (FI) twice from Eircom’s engineers before it would consider progressing this application.
Unsurprisingly, the first request was in relation to perceived 'ambiguity' as to whether the works were to be internal or external, and Galway consultants ‘EnTrust’ were prompt in submitting a revised set of elevational drawings to Kildare County Council clarifying this point.
EnTrust also made a point of engaging with the Architectural Conservation Officer (ACO) of Kildare, and agreed to chemical fixings rather than more invasive drilling methods, and also to stainless steel brackets to minimise corrosion streaks on the brickwork.
However, the ACO still maintained 'serious concerns' with the proposed development.
'Notwithstanding the Belltower is of a more modern era , this does not diminish the impacts of modifying the structure to accommodate telecom equipment,' said ACO Ruth Kidney.
However, following full correspondence, the revised drawings, and a Conservation Assessment Report prepared by Sweeney Architects, the ACO was reassured the work would be carried out in 'a sensitive manner, with regard to the status, character, and fabric of the Church.'
