The Office of Public Workers (OPW) yesterday announced the completion of a project to repair the railings and gates, stonework, and balustrades to the southern arcade screens of the two courtyards fronting Inns Quay.

The railings and gates were damaged during the civil war in 1922 and subsequently repaired, but were again in need of conservation works.

Originally designed by James Gadon, the four pedestrian gates, two vehicular gates and twelve railing sets were repaired by specialist ironworks using traditional techniques. To carry out the repairs some sets needed to be fully dismantled, after being tagged and recorded for reassembly.

The stonework was repointed using lime mortars, damaged stone was repaired using indent repairs in Wicklow Granite, and mortar repair with dust and particulates from removed damaged stone.

The project was carried out by Oldstone Conservation with Bushy Park Ironworks, and led by the Office of Public Works Conservation Services and JCA Architects with Leonard & Williams Chartered Quantity Surveyors.