Southgate Associates provide long-term conservation services to large churches and Cathedrals in Ireland. This work can involve major building interventions, such as reroofing, but much of it concerns ongoing maintenance works which address structural and decorative deterioration in a phased manner over a number of years, with the assistance of grant aid.

Southgate Associates have project managed the ongoing conservation work at the architecturally important, William Burges designed, St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral since 2003, completing many phases of work during this time. The company has been involved in the restoration of faded artworks, damaged marble panels and the conservation of the bells and exterior stone-work, including columns and decorative features such as gargoyles.

Defective stone-work was repaired on the Cathedral generally, damage by falling moisture was arrested by the re-roofing of the cathedral and rising damp issues were resolved by the installation of osmotic damp-control. Southgate and Associates assisted the Cathedral in securing Local Authority funding, Civic Structures (NDP) funding, Heritage Council Funding and funding directly from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Southgate Associates compiled a detailed Conservation Management Plan for the Cathedral, and the phased works are being carried out over an extended period.