Name

Mayglass - South Co. Wexford - the project of the Heritage council.

Address

Mayglass, South co. Wexford.

Contact Details

For details about this preservation project, Visit.

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Pic of the inside of the roof of the outhouse.

The following is a copy of the opening paragrapahs of the Mayglass project websirte, which is well worth a visit.

"The Heritage Council is funding the refurbishment of the thatched mud - walled farm complex at Mayglass, south Co. Wexford. The house, outbuildings and contents form what is considered to be one of the most important vernacular farmsteads in the country.

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The house was built in a number of phases from the early 1700's to the late 1800's, but has remained largely unchanged since then.

Lived in by Seamus Kirwan until the mid 1990's, it contains a fascinating collection of Irish country furniture, together with his family's farm and household effects dating from the 18th to the late 20th centuries.

Mayglass-2000 is one of the most significant conservation projects ever carried out by The Heritage Council. Conservation work on the buildings and site has been ongoing since 1998, it is probably the only such project of this kind in Ireland.

Unlike most other places of its kind, Mayglass was never modernised - no bathroom, running water or electricity. The last inhabitant, who died in 1995, lived a simple life, using the tools and artefacts he had inherited, mending and patching when needed.

The result is a house with many of its 18th and 19th century furniture and fittings still there,added to only when necessary, leaving a unique legacy virtually untouched.

After the death of the owner, the farm was left to a neighbour who had looked after him in his later years. The new owner continued to look after the house as best he could.

Within a year or so, however, the burden of repair and maintenance became too much. The plaster was decaying, the thatch began to deteriorate, and the outbuildings started to collapse. Water started to penetrate, and the condition of the place reached crisis point.

At the end of 1997, additional funding enabled the Heritage Council to take action to save Mayglass from total loss.
A steering group was formed to manage the project. In addition to the Heritage Council, it consisted of representatives from Dúchas -

www.mayglass.ie

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As you can see, there is no chimney on the house at the moment. A sheet of plastic protects the opening.

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I have to confess that this is my favourite part of the Mayglass project. These outhouses are wonderfully interesting. And they have been well preserved.

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This is a view of the front of the out houses. When we purchased our house in Bridgetown - which is only a few miles away - we had an out house which was thatched. Sadly, 25 years ago we simply didn't have the funds to do the big re-thatch and re-structure job it required. We concentrated all our efforts and saving the house - which we did. One stomy night our thatched out-house collapsed.

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In Bridgetown, we have a window sill like this, only our one is made out of a - cheaper - sheet of slate. This opne appears to be a granite sill.

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This is a gable end of the house with the upper window in the centre of it.

The Heritage Service, Department of Irish Folklore, UCD, the National Museum, and as external advisor, the late Christopher Zeuner from the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester, England.

In the Spring of 1998, Pat Ruane and Dermot Nolan were appointed as consultants to manage the programme of emergency repairs and conservation works. Full details of this project work to date can be seen on:

www.mayglass-2000.ie

Click here to go back to Wexford