Politicians across the party spectrum have welcomed news of €772,000 in funding for the Old Steam Mill in Skibbereen under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with another €340,000 granted to Cork County Council for a ‘heritage-sensitive’ regeneration plan for Camden Fort Meagher.

The plans at Camden Fort are intended to enhance the ‘visitor experience’ of the 17th century site, to stimulate the local economy and increase local employment.

In Skibbereen, meanwhile, the intention is to transform the derelict Steam Mill, a former soup kitchen in the Famine and later an auxiliary workhouse, into a new premises for the nearby Famine Story and Exhibition centre.

This funding will allow the first steps of that plan, a feasibility study and design for the project.

The local Historical Society chairman, John O’Neill, said that the historical significance of the building was well-documented.

‘Skibbereen and the surrounding area was most cruelly hit by the famine, and the building operated for a time as an interdenominational famine relief soup kitchen.’

John said there was widespread relief of a different kind in 2015 when Cork County Council committed to buying the building and preserving it as a place of major historical significance.

In May 2023, Cork County Council’s plan to preserve the building took a significant step forward with the appointment of a conservation architect and as part of that process, business consultants and structural engineers worked on preparing a preliminary business case, as well as structural survey elements of the project.

According to John, a development of this magnitude requires significant investment and he said the members of the historical society are delighted that funding has now been made available.

‘We are very grateful to all who made that happen. And we look forward to the day that it, as well as the heritage centre, which is one of West Cork’s great successes, will continue to attract visitors to our town,’ he added. ‘Once the building is sensitively restored, it will make an ideal exhibition centre for an issue that is of local and national significance.’

The imposing four-storey building which stands on the banks of the River Ilen was built by Thomas Henry Marmion, and it holds the distinction of being one of the first mills ever to be established in Ireland.

The news of funding was welcomed early on Friday morning by Senator Noel O’Donovan, who had earlier this year welcomed his party colleague Deputy Jerry Buttimer to the town to see the building; he was joined in his sentiments by Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan and Cllr Joe Carroll, who was mayor at the time of the visit and welcomed Deputy Buttimer to the site.