With these reports to hand the next step was to ask the Conservation Architect to produce a detailed Specification and Schedule of Work to repair and re-slate the outer roof. This was a substantial 80 page document including a detailed Health and Safety Plan prepared by a Civil Engineer. It was completed in 2016 and was sent to a Quantity Surveyor. The Quantity Surveyor prepared a detailed cost estimate based on the floor area and on standard costings for this sort of conservation work. Based on the work of the architect and surveyors a working estimate of €150,000 was arrived at, as an indicative figure necessary to re-slate the outer roof. This figure was based on reports only, and was a useful working figure to use as a fundraising target.
Also in 2016 a further grant was received from Louth Co Council to assist with repointing the stonework in the east façade. This was recommended by the surveyor to stop water penetration over the East window. This was completed over 8 weeks in the summer of 2016 and the entire east facade was re-pointed using traditional lime mortar as recommended by the Conservation Officer and the Conservation Architect. A further grant was also obtained from the Irish Georgian Society and was used to install lead flashing over the east window.
From 2014 to 2016 the Friends group held many community fundraising events. There were 3 garden parties in 2014, 2015 and 2016 held in Collon House by kind permission of Michael McMahon and John Dunne. The Ardee Concert band played at two of these events and the Lourdes Brass band from Drogheda played at the third. During the winters of 2015 and 2016 the Friends organised Christmas Concerts in the Church given by the organist and choral arranger David O’Shea. These were successful and enjoyed by all. In June 2015 the Friends assisted the Church of Ireland with an evensong service. These events showed that the Church is acoustically very suitable for music events.