Hall Black Douglas were appointed as Conservation Architects to ascertain if the remaining structure could be stabilised and restored. Working closely with Byrne Looby, Conservation Structural Engineers, the walls were stabilised using ballasted shipping containers, and tested to establish the capability of the historic structure to stand. A ‘conservation–led’ strategy for the project was developed and the statutory processes of Listed Building Consent was secured. There were many technical challenges to be overcome in the design of the new structure, with the new roof cantilevering over the historic walls, surveys were carried out from cranes and every stone had to be numbered and catalogued. The sheer scale of the stonework restoration and replacement, with new stone from the original quarries, necessitated a team of over 20 stonemasons to be gathered from all over Ireland.