Hand built by the Belfast Water Commissioners between 1904 and 1922 to mark and protect the 9,000-acre water catchment which feeds the Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs, the wall has been a listed building since 1996 and today is in the ownership of NI Water.
In March 2024, NI Water completed the second phase of essential repairs on the 100 year old Mourne Wall Restoration Project.
More than 300 repairs were completed across 15 mountains during phase two of the project, bringing the total number of collapses fixed on the 22-mile-long structure to over 900 since the project began in 2017.
Michael Donnelly, NI Water Senior Project Manager said: “This latest phase of repairs to this iconic landmark was originally programmed to be undertaken over a four-year period but has been completed two years ahead of schedule. This is due largely to the excellent stakeholder relations established and the lessons learned during phase one of the restoration work, such as more accurate weather monitoring using modern weather apps and the development of efficient helicopter lifting plans.”
During Phase 1, over 600 repairs undertaken along the 22mile-long granite structure – including a 27m collapse on Slieve Bernagh as well as extensive path works.
The project team including Geda, RPS & Thomas Rooney & Sons worked closely with Mourne Heritage Trust, NIEA, National Trust and Trustees of Mourne to repair and protect this iconic landmark.
Working through all types of weather, the team hiked up to 6km a day to carry out the repairs. Fortunately, for the bulk of the restoration work, the stone was lying adjacent to the wall. Missing capping stones – weighing up to 120kg each - were sourced from local quarries and donated by the National Trust, transported to site by helicopter and rolled into placed using age-old methods