From Ruin to Remarkable: The Irish Landmark Trust Restorations
You know when things aren’t going so great and someone tells you ‘Everything’s going to be okay’? While you like hearing it, you don’t always actually believe it. Well, believe it, as the houses of the Irish Landmark Trust are testament to that slice of advice, and they’ve got the pictures to prove it.
Like a vastly superior version of those home makeover shows where everyone ends up crying with joy at the reveal, the Landmark Trust have taken Ireland’s battered, ruined, crumbled properties, seen their potential and announced, smug with experience, ‘everything’s going to be okay’.
These remarkably restored and heavenly historic places to stay are the result.
No.63 Merrion Mews, Dublin City
Merrion Mews, Dublin City
Rocking that urban-chic 18th century townhouse vibe , Merrion Mews is quite the stylish city slicker. This is the kind of place you’d expect to see Oscar Wilde swanning out of (he did live near here as a boy), dressed to the nines and off to sniff his way through the Merrion Bar’s wine list. Our imaginations may have gotten away with us there, but it really is a handsome spot. And crikey, didn’t the ILT do a wonderful job? Almost inspires me to go fix that window hinge in the kitchen. Almost…
Salterbridge Gate, County Waterford
Salterbridge Lodge, County Waterford
At a push, I’d have to put Salterbridge Gatelodge at the top of my ILT wishlist. So attached am I to this chunky little pile that my eyes moistened when I saw the crumbling mess above. Dating from the mid 19th Century, this blocky gem is plonked amid the Blackwater Valley (a swathe of glacial valleys cut through by a snaking and elegant Blackwater River) in . Good to see the little guy looking so well… *wipes tear from eye*.
Triumphal Arch Gatelodge, County Fermanagh
Triumphal Arch Lodge, County Fermanagh
If The Triumphal Arch Gatelodge were a man, he’d be a model for sure. Check out those chiselled features and that tough, rugged exterior. Also, gatelodges (this one is part of the Colebrooke Estate in an area of outstanding natural beauty in) were intended to provide arriving guests with a handsome view to prepare them for the main house, making modelling the ideal profession for this stylish stud. Of course, like every model, he needs a touch up to make him look a little sharper (as seen in the before and after snaps). Right, I think I’ve taken that metaphor far enough. Let’s move on.
Annaghmore Schoolhouse, County Sligo
The Schoolhouse in Annaghmore, County Sligo
The Schoolhouse in Annaghmore, was built in the 1860s to educate local children. From the ‘before’ picture, we can tell that, at a certain point, either the pupils or the teachers stopped turning up for class. After years in the undergrowth, the ILT did their homework (get it? School? Homework? Never mind) and turned the schoolhouse into the kind of fairytale spot where you’d expect to see Snow White leaning out the window, chomping on an apple with a suspicious look on her face. If you can, bring a fishing rod with you and drop it (the line, not the whole rod) into the Owenmore River that runs by the house. You might pick up something fresh for dinner.
Did we mention there’s more where that came from? Because there is. Just think of back-from-the-brink lighthouses, weed-strewn-rubble miniature castles and righteously renovated cottages. All were lost, but all were found. And for that, we owe the Irish Landmark Trust a rather thundering round of applause.
Brilliant as always David – a great testimonial about what Irish Landmark Trust are all about. The images say it all!
What a beautiful job is being done. Bringing the old to be new again is such a gratifying gesture. Thank you, David, for your pictures and comments.
@Karen – Any time! A genuine pleasure to get Landmark Trust posts together.
@Emily – Delighted you enjoyed it, Emily. It’s one of our favourite stories here at the blog. And to think, the Irish Landmark Trust is a charitable organisation!
In my travels throughout Ireland I often see a ‘ruin’ and think ‘Someone should do something about that’! I am so glad to know that someone is.
Wonderful transformations! I hope the Irish Landmark Trust continues their charities in allowing for such wonderful work.
As some of us in the ‘U.S.A, say …WICKED GOOD! job!!
Great post David! the pictures really sum up the work of the Trust. Come and stay somewhere with us soon!!
Another great post on the outstanding work done by the Irish Landmark Trust. The pictures say it all. What a transformation.
David I know what you mean about putting Landmark Trust posts together. I have taken 360° immersive photographs at some of the Trust’s properties and can honestly say the amount of care and dedication that goes in to restoring these properties and giving them a second lease of life as holiday rentals is inspirational.
Some of my panos can be found below. I hope to do some more this year.
http://j.mp/MerrionMewsDublin
http://j.mp/TheBarbicanGate [Antrim]
http://j.mp/Magherintemple [Antrim]
http://j.mp/TriumphalArchGatelodge [Fermanagh]
So happy to see this. There’s a small castle outside Killarney on the way to Sneam that I would love to see restored. Wonderful to see a place where people appreciate the “old” instead of just tearing everything down and building the “new & shiney!”
Beautiful!
[...] Ireland, the people responsible for remodeling this gorgeous schoolhouse did it right! The Schoolhouse in Annaghmore, County Sligo was built in the 1860s to educate local [...]
fantasitic buildings and nice office staff. but the managment is crap and they dont know how to treat customers when there is a problem. Its such a pity, but the management treats customers badly and they display a celtic tigre attitude. maybe if they did not get great aided they would value and look after customers better.
“Name” do get in touch with the office team if there is an unresolved problem We value our guests and always try to ensure their holiday stay at Irish Landmark properties is a a good experience. We all feel disappointed when we hear of a guest having a bad experience.
Fabulous work in restoring these old buildings back to their glory. In these times so much of our rich heritage is left or bulldosed which is a crime. We are custodians for future generations so lets uphold our responsibilities
Absolutely Amazing !!The befores look so in Need of Time ,TLC and Money…makes You proud Well Done!!
Awesome! Someone really had vision for these homes. Are they inprivate hands or owned by the government? My favorite was Gatelodge.. Love the website. Thanks for taking the time to anwser my questions. It’s nice to chat w/ others who share a passion for Ireland and ancestry. I’m still fairly new to all this but I like to learn about it.
I just found this site and I really love the before/after photos.
I stayed in the Barbican many years ago – and I thought the bathroom (not in view in the panorama shots) was one of the best features, plus the rooftop seating area, and drawbridge-looking gate.
I’m hoping to stay in one of the castles or lighthouses next year.
Keep up the good work.