Araby House has been the home of the INOU for almost 25 years. The building is over 150 years old and in recent years, unfortunately, was beginning to show its age. Last year, the new Board of the Full Employment Trust (FET) the owners of building and the INOU’s Landlord embarked on a major upgrade of the building. This involved the installation of high quality insulation on both the exterior and interior of the building, replacement of all windows, the installation of a new heat pump heating system and upgrades to fire safety and the intruder alarm systems. This was a significant building project which was overseen by Basil Conroy, Chartered Quantity and Building Surveyor and Michael Quinn and his colleagues on the Board of the Full Employment Trust. The main building Contractors were Breffni Insulation, and we would like to thank Steven Burns and his colleagues at Breffni for doing such an excellent job. We would also like to acknowledge the support provided by John B. Smith from KORE Insulation and Ger Hanratty and his colleagues at Croke Park Stadium for facilitating the building work. Finally, we would like to thank the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Clann Credo for supporting the project.
Front of Araby house during and after renovations
The INOU is very grateful for the decision taken by the Board of the Full Employment Trust to proceed with such a major project in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and we are delighted with the completion of this essential maintenance work which should protect the physical integrity of the building for at least another 50 years. The completion of this significant work has also made a major contribution to reducing the building’s carbon footprint. The removal of the old gas heating system coupled with the upgrading of the building’s insulation will result in reduced energy usage and will ultimately make a small but nonetheless important contribution to combatting climate change. A related aspect to the work was reaching agreement between the INOU and the FET on a new Lease and rent, which ensures that the INOU will remain as tenants in this fine building for many years to come.
Side of Araby house during and after renovations