Votes leave Bishop's Palace fate unclear

A controversy over the future use of the Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny looks set to continue, after proposals that the Heritage Council should take over the building for its new headquarters divided local Church of Ireland members. .

The Church of Ireland's diocesan councils of Ferns and Cashel and Ossory met last Wednesday to vote on the proposal. The diocese of Cashel and Ossory voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal (31 for, 12 against) while the Ferns dioceses voted narrowly against (10 for, 12 against).

Before the meeting, it was stated that the motion needed the approval of both councils to be carried. However, the majority of voters were in favour of the proposal so the legal implications are still unclear.

The Right Rev John Neill, the Bishop of Kilkenny, said it was now up to the Representative Church Body (RCB) to interpret the result. A spokesman for the RCB said it would meet on June 20th to consider the situation. If the proposal is sanctioned, the plan will involve building a new bishop's house in the palace grounds.

Mr Michael Starrett, chief executive of the Heritage Council, said he hoped to have a result within a few weeks. He told The Irish Times the council was very pleased that a majority of people voted in favour of selling the property.

It is understood that some members of the diocesan councils were concerned at the speed with which the issue was dealt with.

On Tuesday, they got a 130-page document outlining the proposals for the palace. The meeting was held on Wednesday night and while one member sought an amendment to delay the vote, it was not allowed.

However, Mr Starrett said that this proposal had been in gestation for up to 18 months and that Wednesday's meeting included a very comprehensive briefing and question-and-answer session.

Members in favour of the Heritage Council takeover believe the 600-year old building is too costly to maintain and does not serve modern needs.

Those who oppose the plan feel the Church of Ireland should not part with such a historic building. While the agreement would include the church's right to use the palace for certain occasions, some fear that, should the Heritage Council be wound up by a future government, the building could be sold to the private sector.