We are extremely proud to have served as conservation architects on the restoration, refurbishment and extension of St. Augustine’s Hall on Farnham Street, Cavan Town, working on behalf of Fr. Kevin Fay and the Parish of Urney and Annagelliff. The building officially reopened on 29 May 2026 as a state-of-the-art Adult Education Centre under the stewardship of Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board, with construction delivered by Rodney Brady Contracting Ltd.

Originally built in 1829 as a day seminary for student priests, St. Augustine’s Hall is a building of deep historic significance on Farnham Street. By the early 2000s its condition had deteriorated significantly, and it was the vision of Fr. Fay and the parish that set restoration in motion, supported by the generous contributions of the local community.

As conservation architects, our role was to navigate the complexities of working with a protected structure, ensuring that the historic character and fabric of the building were carefully preserved while transforming it into a fully modern, accessible educational facility fit for the 21st century. The project required a sensitive and considered approach at every stage, balancing the demands of contemporary use with our responsibility to protect one of Cavan Town’s most important historic buildings.

Now fully operational and hosting adult education classes and community programmes, the centre has already been described as “a place of hope” by those it serves. Speaking at the opening, Fr. Fay recalled the building sitting silent on dark winter nights, reflecting warmly that those same windows now shine once more with light, life and learning. It was a deeply moving occasion and one that Craftstudio Architecture is enormously proud to have been part of.