This is another of those great finds – what is it and why is it there?
“The Wonderful Barn” it’s called is rather an impressive spiral shaped building on the estate of the Connolly family. This location is not listed anywhere on any travel guide book and was very difficult to find. (I found out about it looking for the weird and unusual in Ireland.) In fact, we stopped and asked two different locals, one had never heard of the place and the second looked it up for us on Google. If you blink you’ll miss the sign that says, “Wonderful Barn – private access road”. As we drove along the little dirt road we came upon numerous private plots of gardens (mostly veggie) and a few folks tending them. Off in the wee distance you could see the top of this unique structure. Driving around the corner you are instantly struck with, what was at one time, a wonderful estate. Surrounded by high stone walls, and a very impressive home. As we approached the estate it was obvious no one lives there and we were the only ones around. In fact, all the first-floor windows are bricked up, second-floor windows are boarded up. The front yard grass is cut, but there are no other signs of the estate being cared for (there was a padlock on the gate to the back yard). The only sounds were that of the M6 (motorway) which totally ruins the seclusion and peace this home once offered. The ‘barn’ was built in 1743 and no one really knows why it was built in the shape it was. Perhaps following a famine in 1740 it was built as a granary, or used as a gamekeeper tower. At the back of the property, on either corner of the walled garden, we could see two dovecots. These are smaller round structures with open tops, and little holes throughout that house doves or pigeons. (also used for food). I’m glad we could find this unique structure and get pictures. I've posted all pictures here. Perhaps it will make a great subject for a painting someday.
“The Wonderful Barn” it’s called is rather an impressive spiral shaped building on the estate of the Connolly family. This location is not listed anywhere on any travel guide book and was very difficult to find. (I found out about it looking for the weird and unusual in Ireland.) In fact, we stopped and asked two different locals, one had never heard of the place and the second looked it up for us on Google. If you blink you’ll miss the sign that says, “Wonderful Barn – private access road”. As we drove along the little dirt road we came upon numerous private plots of gardens (mostly veggie) and a few folks tending them. Off in the wee distance you could see the top of this unique structure. Driving around the corner you are instantly struck with, what was at one time, a wonderful estate. Surrounded by high stone walls, and a very impressive home. As we approached the estate it was obvious no one lives there and we were the only ones around. In fact, all the first-floor windows are bricked up, second-floor windows are boarded up. The front yard grass is cut, but there are no other signs of the estate being cared for (there was a padlock on the gate to the back yard). The only sounds were that of the M6 (motorway) which totally ruins the seclusion and peace this home once offered. The ‘barn’ was built in 1743 and no one really knows why it was built in the shape it was. Perhaps following a famine in 1740 it was built as a granary, or used as a gamekeeper tower. At the back of the property, on either corner of the walled garden, we could see two dovecots. These are smaller round structures with open tops, and little holes throughout that house doves or pigeons. (also used for food). I’m glad we could find this unique structure and get pictures. I've posted all pictures here. Perhaps it will make a great subject for a painting someday. 
Is it for sale? ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is a weird one for sure. Must have had some specific purpose originally. Quite curious.
ReplyDelete