Heritage Angel Awards 2024, Winners and Highly Commended Projects
Winners and Highly Commended Projects Announced – SEE BELOW FOR OFFICIAL PHOTOS AND PRESS RELEASE
The quest for the 2024 Northern Ireland Heritage Angels came to a conclusion at an awards ceremony on 27th March. The evening was hosted by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council at the Braid, Ballymena. The ornate surroundings of the theatre which provided a fitting backdrop for the gala. Winners and highly commended projects were recognised for their invaluable contributions to the field of built heritage of Northern Ireland.
The awards were managed by Ulster Architectural Heritage and generously supported by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and the Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division. They were delivered in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board NI, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hearth Historic Buildings Trust, Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division and other heritage organisations across NI.
Brigid O Neill, Anthony Toner, musicians and choir entertained the guests with songs from the “Buildings” in Song project and Helen Mark brought us a poetry rendition.
It was a memorable evening and a great time was had by all!
Category 1: Best Maintenance of a Historic Building or Place
WINNER
THE CHURCH RESTORATION TEAM, LED BY FATHER BOLAND
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane
HIGHLY COMMENDED
CHRIST CHURCH OPEN DOOR
Christ Church, Londonderry
HIGHLY COMMENDED
MRS TERRY MCKEOWN, SAILORTOWN REGENERATION GROUP
St Joseph’s, Sailortown, Belfast
Category 2: Best Rescue of an Historic Building or Place under £1million
WINNER
MR ROY MCKEOWN
Raceview Mill, Broughshane
HIGHLY COMMENDED
JONATHAN AND LYNNE MCCABE
Arthur’s Boutique Guest Accommodation, Royal Hillsborough
HIGHLY COMMENDED
CALEDON REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP
The Wool Store, Caledon
Category 3: Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People
WINNER
SCHOOLS, CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE LOUGH ERNE LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP SCHEME
Fermanagh’s Vernacular Heritage & Associated Social History
HIGHLY COMMENDED
CRAIGAVON HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND LURGAN TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE
Digging Deeper into Kilmocholmóg
HIGHLY COMMENDED
LISNASKEA HISTORICAL SOCIETY (IN PARTICULAR THE EFFORTS OF LINDA SWINDLE, VICKY HERBERT AND THE LATE JOHN REIHILL)
Old Tyme Market, Lisnaskea
Category 4: Major Regeneration of an Historic Building or Place over £1m
WINNER
JOSEPH O’CONNOR, HEAD OF CONSTRUCTION, PRIMARK
Bank Buildings, Primark, Belfast
HIGHLY COMMENDED
ARCHITECTS MCADAM DESIGN & CONSARC DESIGN GROUP AND CONTRACTOR HERON BROS LTD
Templemore Baths, Belfast
HIGHLY COMMENDED
KIERAN GILMORE AND ALISON GORDON, OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL
The Court House, Bangor
Category 5: Best Craftsmanship or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
WINNER
BERNARD CUNNINGHAM, BCS PLASTERMOULDINGS
Fisherwick Farmhouse, Doagh
HIGHLY COMMENDED
NATHAN MORROW,
THE ROCK STONE MASONRY
Drummond’s Grave, Ahoghill Churchyard
Riddel’s Warehouse, Belfast
HIGHLY COMMENDED
KIERAN AGNEW, THATCHER AND APPRENTICE TOMMY MCWILLIAMS
(JOINT SHORTLISTING)
Sam’s Cottage and Keenaghan Cottage
Category 6: Research or Interpretation of a Historic Building or Place
WINNER
DR PAUL LOGUE AND CIARA MACMANUS
Researching the archaeology and history of 10 High Street Carrickfergus
HIGHLY COMMENDED
MAPPING MONUMENTS VOLUNTEER GROUP
Mapping Monuments, Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme
HIGHLY COMMENDED
9FT IN COMMON, BELFAST
Dr Aisling Rusk and Amberlea Nealy
Winner, Public Vote
KIERAN GILMORE AND ALISON GORDON, OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL
The Court House, Bangor
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dawson Stelfox, Consarc Design Group
Category 1: Best Maintenance of a Historic Building or Place
WINNER Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane, The Church Restoration Team, Led By Father Boland, with Host Wendy Austin and Award Presenter Paul Price Director, Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division
HIGHLY COMMENDED Mrs Terry McKeown, Sailortown Regeneration Group, St Joseph’s Sailortown, Belfast
Category 2: Best Rescue of a Historic Building or Place under £1 million
WINNER Mr Roy McKeown, Raceview Mill, Broughshane, with host Wendy Austin and Award Presenter Helen Mark
HIGHLY COMMENDED Jonathan and Lynn McCabe, Arthur’s Boutique Guest Accommodation, Royal Hillsborough
HIGHLY COMMENDED Caledon Regeneration Partnership, The Wool Store, Caledon
Category 3: Best Contribution to a Heritage Project By Young People
WINNER Schools, children and their families who participated In The Lough Erne Landscape Partnership Scheme Fermanagh’s Vernacular Heritage & Associated Social History project, with host Wendy Austin and award presenter Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna.
HIGHLY COMMENDED Craigavon Historical Society and Lurgan Townscape Heritage: Digging Deeper into Kilmocholmóg
HIGHLY COMMENDED Lisnaskea Historical Society: Old Tyme Market, Lisnaskea
Category 4: Best Major Regeneration of a Historic Building or Place over £1m
WINNER Joseph O’Connor, Primark, Bank Buildings, represented by Hall Black Douglas Architects, with host Wendy Austin and award Presenter Patricia Corbett, Northern Ireland committee member of The National Lottery Heritage Fund
HIGHLY COMMENDED Templemore Baths, Belfast, represented by Consarc Design Group, McAdam Design and Heron Bros Contractors
HIGHLY COMMENDED The Court House, Bangor, Kieran Gilmore and Alison Gordon, Open House Festival
Category 5: Best Craftsperson or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
WINNER Bernard Cunningham , BCS Plastermouldings, with host Wendy Austin and award presenter Barry Neilson, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Training Board NI
HIGHLY COMMENDED Nathan Morrow, The Rock Stone Masonry
HIGHLY COMMENDED Kieran Agnew, Thatcher with Apprentice Tommy McWilliams
Category 6: Best Research or Interpretation of a Historic Building or Place
WINNER Dr Paul Logue and Ciara MacManus: Researching the Archaeology and History of 10 High Street Carrickfergus, with host Wendy Austin and award presenter Joe Mahon of Mahon’s Way
HIGHLY COMMENDED Mapping Monuments Volunteer Group: Mapping Monuments, Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Landscape Partnership Scheme
HIGHLY COMMENDED 9ft in Common, Belfast: Dr Aisling Rusk and Amberlea Nealy
Category 7: Public Vote
WINNER The Court House, Bangor, Kieran Gilmore and Alison Gordon, Open House Festival with host Wendy Austin and presenter Anne Sykes, Director of the Irish News
Category 8: Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER Dawson Stelfox, Consarc Design Group with host Wendy Austin and award presenter Marcus Patton