Thieves target landmark Galway buildings for lead

Galway City Tribune – Landmark city buildings are being turned into fortresses, to keep out vandals and opportunistic thieves.

Three well-known buildings – Lenaboy Castle at Taylor’s Hill, the old Waterworks at Terryland and the lighthouse at Mutton Island – have been targeted recently by thieves and vandals.

Galway City Council has confirmed that in some instances “opportunistic thieves” are stealing valuable metals from buildings of cultural and heritage significance, including lead off the roof at Mutton Island, and Lenaboy, which was handed over to the city by the Sisters of Mercy earlier this year.

Palisade fencing is to be erected around Lenaboy Castle – built in 1859 – in an effort to keep thieves and vandals out.

It has prompted former Mayor, Councillor Niall McNelis, to call for more vigilance from the public and more Garda visibility and monitoring of buildings under attack.

The old waterworks buildings at the Dyke Road, including one stone building dating to the early 19th century, and a newer one from the 1940s or 1950s, have also been attacked, a spokesperson for the local authority said.
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