'Not a viable option' ... Council won’t support Cross rehoming plan

REVIEW Local representatives told purchasing of Cross St property in Kells to house 1,200 year-old monument ‘not viable’

Proposals to showcase the historic Kells Market Cross in a shop building in Cross Street in the town has been ruled out by Meath County Council.

Council officials have told councillors that it would not be feasible to use the building to provide social housing, while using the ground floor to house the 1,200 year old cross. Now Kells Municipal Council members, who are meeting representatives of the Office of Public Works today (Tuesday) are anxious to discuss with them the future of the ancient sculpture and other issues in the town.

Following a request to purchase the retail unit in the centre of Kells last month, the Council’s Housing Department agreed to review the property to see if it was a viable option to redevelop the property with the intention of relocating the cross and providing residential units.

"The outcome of this review is that it would not be a viable option for the Council to purchase the property for the requested use," Director of Services, Dara McGowan wrote to councillors.

Cllr Sean Drew said he hoped that the upcoming Kells Public Realm plan will take account of the feelings of the large number of people who contacted him, wanting the cross relocated to its original location of Cross Street.

"I am looking forward to the publication of the draft Public Realm Plan which is expected later this month or early next month. It will enable the public to make submissions both on the issue of the Cross and other issues in Kells Town Centre.

"A priority must be the preservation and safety of the cross.”

Cllr Sarah Reilly said: "Our meeting with the OPW is long overdue. There are issues across the district that need to be highlighted and discussed. I am hopeful that this meeting with start a relationship between the OPW and the Council wherein we work closely together for the betterment of not only the conservation of our historical sites but for tourism in the area also. "

Councillor Paul McCabe welcomed the meeting with the OPW. “As a collective, we have been long calling for a meeting between the local councillors and the OPW. On one hand it’s regrettable that it has taken this long to establish contact with officials in the OPW, however it’s welcome that they have finally responded to us and agreed to meet with the seven public representatives in the Kells Municipal District.

At a Kells MD meeting last month, all seven councillors proposed a motion requesting Meath Co Council and the OPW to examine the feasibility of acquiring the vacant TP Rogers premises on the corner of Cross Street and Market Street in Kells, with a view to converting it into a permanent indoor location to house the Market Cross.

The initial response from the executive was that the council were not considering the purchase of any further public buildings, but councillors suggested it could also be used to provide housing.

The cross, which had been located at Cross Street until 1996, was moved from that busy location after it was hit by a bus.

A former town councillor, Frances Monaghan recently proposed the county council consider locating the cross back to Cross Street, in that building, to keep the priceless structure safe from the elements.

The ninth century cross is currently located outside the Kells Heritage Centre – the former Kells Courthouse. Following the accident in 1996, the cross was removed from the town for repair and the National Monuments Service indicated it would prefer if the structure was housed indoors.