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Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) has restored the 100-year-old Mourne Wall, which was built to mark and protect the 9,000-acre water catchment that feeds the Silent Valley and Ben Crom reservoirs.
This most recent phase of the Mourne Wall restoration project saw more than 600 repairs undertaken along the 22-mile-long granite structure – including a 27m collapse on Slieve Bearnagh – as well as extensive path works.
The project, which was originally estimated to take four years, was completed in less than two. Geda Construction was the contractor on the project working in partnership with local stonemasons and RPS.
Paul Harper, NI Water’s director of asset delivery said: “As part of NI Water’s commitment to the ‘Protocol for the Care of the Government Historic Estates’, we undertook surveys along the entire stretch of the wall during 2016 and set in place funding for a programme of wall and path repairs to get underway in 2017.
“Less than two years on, I am delighted that this initial phase of work has been successfully completed. I would like to thank Mourne Heritage Trust, NIEA, National Trust and Trustees of Mourne for their guidance and assistance throughout the project and pay tribute to the strenuous efforts exerted by the contractors and wider project team in reaching this milestone so quickly.
“While this phase of restoration has been funded through NI Water’s current capital works programme, we are aware that the wall may suffer further deterioration in the future. NI Water is committed to undertaking subsequent surveys and, subject to funding, carrying out repairs during the next six-year capital works programme which commences in April 2021.”
Chris Hazzard MP added: “Since its commencement in April 2017, the Mourne Wall restoration project has caught the attention of the wider public with the project featuring in the recent BBC ‘Chronicles of Mourne’ series.
“I welcome the completion of this project and congratulate all the team involved.”
The wall was hand-built by the Belfast Water Commissioners between 1904 and 1922 and has been a listed building since 1996. Today it is under the ownership of NI Water.
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