The Heritage Council is to give a grant of £750,000 towards the cost of restoring one of Dublin's oldest buildings, the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral.
Dating from the early 12th to the mid-13th centuries, this forest of pillars and vaulting is one of the largest early medieval crypts in Ireland or Britain. At 170 feet it is unique in both islands in extending under almost the entire length of the cathedral.
Following its restoration last year at a cost of £1.3 million, the crypt was opened last June by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The Very Rev John Paterson, Dean of the cathedral, said yesterday "we are very grateful to An Taoiseach for his personal interest in and support for the restoration since then. The support of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms Sile de Valera TD, has given us great encouragement".
The Heritage Council grant of £750,000 for the crypt has been made possible by extra funding provided by the Minister and means the cathedral board can concentrate on restoration work on other parts of the building.
On May 30th, Ms de Valera will open a permanent exhibition of the cathedral's historic silver and manuscripts. The new display area has been funded by private donations.
Many of the monuments and artefacts in the crypt are of national importance, among which includes the sarcophagus of Archbishop John Comyn (d. 1213).
