Restoring Mullingar’s Hevey Institute to its former glory

The architectural restoration of any protected building can be a painstaking business, but for the staff at Coláiste Mhuire, returning the famous Hevey Institute to its former glory is an act of love.

Now at phase three of the restoration process, which includes work on each of the 103 windows of the old building, which was first constructed in 1856 for the education of the poor children of Mullingar, excitement is growing in the school as the work takes shape.

The Hevey Institute, the original name of Coláiste Mhuire, was established as a result of the benevolence of local brewer and landowner James Hevey who left his lands at Bryanstown, Ballinea “to support and educate in literature, science and theology, such poor children as they should select in the parish of Mullingar, and for that purpose to build and keep in repair a schoolhouse”.

The Hevey Trust, the body established to administer Hevey’s will, had John Bourke design and build the imposing Hevey Institute with its variety of classical features including an impressive Italianate belfry, making the Hevey one of the finest buildings in Mullingar.

Principal of Colaiste Mhuire Joe O’Meara explained how the restoration was coming along: “Each window has to be taken out individually and be completely restored as they were back in 1856,” he says.

“Any glass that was in them has to be saved. The wood has to be stripped down, it is what you call an architectural restoration job, which makes it extremely costly. Even when they were doing all the plastering inside, they actually had to plaster the walls with the same process that was used in 1856 with lime and lath,” he explained.

Another feature of the Hevey Institute which the staff at Coláiste Mhuire hope to see working again is the old clock located to the front of the belfry, which he believes hasn’t worked for hundreds of years: “We would like to see that clock ticking again. I don’t think any one has heard it strike in living memory,” said teacher Joe Murray.

“We would be hoping that we could get someone to come on board and sponsor it, maybe even a past pupil,” he said.

Since its opening in 1856 thousands of Mullingar boys have passed through the doors of the Hevey Institute and gone out again into the wide world.

The intervening years have not always been kind to the building. The interior has been much altered with the original rooms being partitioned to cater for the greater numbers attending, particularly in the 1950’s. The construction of a new primary school in the late 1950’s and of a new secondary school in the early 1970’s meant that the Hevey Institute which had been swarming with pupils gradually fell into disuse. The building is now showing its age and is in urgent need of conservation.

“The building is made of cut limestone so they cannot sandblast it, they have to let the natural weathering process take place because it is a protecting building,” continued Joe Murray.

Phase One and Two of the restoration process have already been completed, which included work on the mechanics, electrics and roof of the building.

“Our main aim would be to integrate that building back into the school,” explained Principal Joe O’Meara. “Once upon a time there were hundreds and hundreds of pupils in it, so we would generally like to see it back to the way it was, with students in and out of it so that it will be a central part of school life again,” he said.

Architects Patrick Weafer and Westmeath County Council’s Bernadette Solon have been involved in the project, on how to best restore the Hevey Institute to its former glory.

“Both Pat Weafer our architect and Bernadette Solon of Westmeath County Council have been hugely supportive, and we would like to compliment them on that,” added Joe O’Meara.