An oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála into the controversial re-ordering of the interior of St Colman's cathedral, Cobh, gets under way in at the Midleton Park Hotel, Co Cork, tomorrow.
Three days have been set aside to hear submissions.
Six parties have lodged appeals against the decision by Cobh Town Council last September to grant planning permission to the trustees of the cathedral for the re-ordering of the interior of the cathedral. Fr James Killeen, spokesman for Bishop John Magee of Cloyne, who is behind the interior design plans for the cathedral, yesterday declined to comment on the hearing.
Among the objectors are the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, An Taisce, the Irish Georgian Society and Friends of St Colman's Cathedral.
The magnificent cathedral was designed by Edward W Pugin (Pugin the Younger) and George Ashlin and took 47 years to build (1868-1915). Since then it has retained its imposing majesty as both a place of worship and a major tourist attraction.
The trustees are proposing to relocate the altar rails and extend the sanctuary area to the nave, which would involve disturbing the mosaic sanctuary floor designed by architect Ashlin and made by Ludwig Oppenheimer of Manchester in 1892.
The trustees, who include Dr Magee, want to create a permanent altar on an extended sanctuary. The proposals would involve removing and relaying some mosaics and placing others in storage.
Dr Magee said in the Cobh Parish Newsletter the proposals were in keeping with recommendations from the second Vatican Council regarding the way that Mass is celebrated, so that people can become more involved.
The proposals are based on work by the Dublin firm of architects, Cathal O'Neill and Associates, retained by the trustees, which has previously worked on the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin and has advised in Dublin on sacred art and architecture.
The re-ordering of the interior of the cathedral is the final phase in a multi-million euro restoration which began in 1993.
The department in its submission argues that its concern about the mosaics was not taken on board by Cobh Town Council before it granted permission.
"The proposed long-term storage of extensive areas of mosaic flooring is far less practicable and desirable than their retention in situ. We had hoped that our principal recommendation, if followed, might have resulted in the emergence of a modified design which would have met concerns to protect important architectural heritage values of the cathedral, including the affected mosaics, without impinging on the substantive liturgical objectives of the re-ordering."
The Friends of St Colman's Cathedral group says the the alterations would "destroy, deface and distort" the internationally renowned cathedral. "The liturgy can be celebrated adequately in Cobh cathedral as it is," it says.
The group has collected more than 24,000 signatures.
An Taisce says the proposal would cause "irreversible and unacceptable" changes to the fabric of the building and said the architects of St Colman's set out to produce a Victorian building, not a medieval one, contrary to claims made in the proposal.
The Irish Georgian Society has called for debate over whether the alterations are necessary under the provision of the second Vatican Council.
