Ireland Working Party: The Wonderful Barn

Event details

Thursday 28 August (arrival evening) – Sunday 31 August 2025 (cleanup morning)

Join SPAB Ireland for a two-day working party at The Wonderful Barn, a unique 18th-century corkscrew tower located in Kildare. Volunteers will assist in landscape clearance, basic masonry tasks, and recording, helping to conserve and highlight this important heritage site.
This is an ideal opportunity for students, early-career professionals and enthusiasts interested in conservation, heritage skills, or Irish architectural history. Participants will come away with an understanding of heritage repair principles, traditional materials, and best practice site recording.
This event takes place during National Heritage Week and supports SPAB’s mission to promote the care and repair of historic buildings. Camping on site is available for all participants.

You will need

Sturdy footwear (steel toe boots preferred)
Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing
Reusable water bottle and coffee cup
Gloves (if you have them)
Tent and camping gear (if staying on site)
Torch/headlamp for camping

We will supply

On the work site

Hard hats, high-vis jackets
Safety goggles, gloves (if needed)
All tools and materials

Food and amenities

Breakfast both days, hot lunch on Friday and Saturday, sandwiches on Sunday, tea/coffee/snacks.
Camping space (basic, no shower facilities)

How to get there

The Wonderful Barn,
Celbridge Rd
Barnhall, Leixlip
Co. Kildare

By public transport: Accessible via Dublin Bus and Irish Rail to Leixlip Louisa Bridge Station. Approx. 15-minute walk from the station.

By car: Located off the R449, near Leixlip. Free parking available.

Programme

Some of these timings may change for practicality. Joining instructions will be sent with full details.

Thursday 28 August

19:00 – Arrival and camping set-up
20:00 – Informal welcome and site orientation

Friday 29 August

09:30 – Welcome and safety briefing
10:00 – Site introduction and tour
10:30 – Work activities commence (landscape clearance, lime mortaring)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Continued hands-on work
17:30 – Wrap-up

Saturday 30 August

09:30 – Coffee and briefing
10:00 – Work continues (masonry and recording)
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Finishing tasks and group discussion
16:30 – Event close

Sunday 31 August

08:00 – Morning clean-up and pack-up
10:00 – Informal departures

Tutors and team

David McFerran – Carpenter, SPAB Fellow and Chair of SPAB Ireland
Brian Tobin – Specialist Lime Plasterer
Aoife Howard – Conservation Engineer, SPAB Scholar and SPAB Ireland Committee Member

Accessibility

Uneven surfaces
Significant periods of standing, walking and kneeling
Time spent working outdoors
Loud noises
Animals roaming freely
No / limited heating
Catering for dietary restrictions, if indicated on the booking form

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email ireland@spab.org.uk

Photos and filming: We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion, including in print and online. Participants may take photos and short videos for personal use, with permission of the course leader and all other participants in frame. If you want to post on social media, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spab1877) for permission. If your material is good, we might ask to share it with our followers.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: The Wonderful Barn photo credit Howley Hayes Cooney Architecture