Brendan Merry and Partners were delighted to attend the opening of the official opening of the Deanery Mews at St Patrick’s Cathedral this month. The completion of this project marks a significant milestone in the ongoing revitalisation of one of Dublin’s most historic precincts. BMP were proud to serve as Quantity Surveyors on this transformative project, which brings new purpose, accessibility and community value to a site of exceptional heritage importance.

Formerly a coach house and stable located beside the historic deanery, the building has been sensitively restored and reimagined as a dedicated hub for music, education and community engagement. The project forms part of St Patrick’s Cathedral’s broader commitment to preserving its built heritage while creating spaces that support contemporary cultural life.

The Deanery Mews was officially opened by President Catherine Connolly, whose presence underscored the cultural and civic significance of the development. The ceremony featured contributions from the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral and performances by the Cathedral Choristers, highlighting the building’s renewed role as a centre for musical learning and performance.

The restored Mews now provides a flexible ground-floor reception and performance space capable of accommodating up to 80 people, along with four purpose-built classrooms on the upper level. These facilities will support choristers from St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir School and Grammar School, offering an inspiring environment for music tuition and rehearsal.

The project was delivered through the collaboration of an exceptional design and construction team, including Interactive Project Managers, Howley Hayes Cooney Architecture, CORA Consulting Engineers, PMEP Consulting, DFLA, BD LAB, Linzi Simpson (Archaeology), and Kelbuild Ltd. Their combined expertise ensured that the historic fabric of the building was preserved while integrating modern functionality and performance standards.

One of the project’s most distinctive features was the reinstatement of original cobbles uncovered during archaeological excavation—an example of the careful attention to detail that guided the restoration.

The opening of the Deanery Mews represents a meaningful investment in both heritage and community. Brendan Merry & Partners are honoured to have contributed to a project that will serve the Cathedral, its schools and the wider Dublin 8 community for generations to come.