There is a great sense of get-up-and-go within communities across the country. What could be done to add a bit of ‘oomph’ to rural areas?
Get your parish council to put forward a little plan of five things that would make a difference to the village, include derelict buildings [in that plan]. Then, go to the council and say, ‘We want you to refurbish these and put families into them. We want families living in our village.’ Families go to the school; they play in the local sports club and that to me is essential. Make sure you try keep your school open. If you keep the school open, there are little spin-offs; people will go to a café and the local shop after the school run.
When I think about travelling around the country, there is the Blue Goat deli in Ramelton, Donegal which you wouldn’t find in Dublin in terms of quality, but people travel to it. Or if you think of Abbeyleix in Laois, which has come into its own since it was bypassed with the motorway. There’s the bakery and next door the wine shop, then the fabulous little gift shop behind the library and the interior design shop. All of a sudden, I now have half a morning of wandering; it has become a destination and that is what you want to aim for. People need to look out the windows and see the opportunities. There are so many towns and villages where everyone lives around the village and not in the village.
For the young couple who have done the travelling and now want to get started on their dream home, they have been offered a site on the family farm – what would you do?
Personally, [I feel] we should not be building one-off housing in the ?countryside. There are many vacant or derelict houses and this is here we should be starting. Is the grandparents’ house vacant or still standing? On so many farms in the seventies, the grandparents stayed in the old farmhouse and the new family built a bungalow beside the farmhouse. Now, the next generation are looking to build another house, but in the meantime, the traditional house looks as if it is gone past its sell-by date.
My advice for this situation is, if there is an older building or an outbuilding available, they should refurbish one of these. Those buildings come with a vacant property refurbishment grant, which are not insignificant. You can get between €30,0000 and €50,000 and because they are first-time buyers, they are able to avail of that grant.
What would Hugh Wallace do? /Joe McCallion
If someone is going to do a new-build in the country, then it should be interesting. It should not be a huge proportioned house. It should be single story, so it fits in with the landscape and in the future, you can plant around it and it can disappear in to the landscape. I think people build houses that are way too big. I’m not quite sure what you are to do with 2,5000 – 3,0000 square feet. Really 1,500 square feet is adequate and then it is about following the sunlight; grab as much energy through south or west facing windows. Then put in modern technology so you end up with virtually zero footprint. That is all do-able in this day and age.
For the person who has a cottage on half an acre and would like to do something to increase its value without breaking the bank. What would you do?
Sell the house and move into the village. We are all going to live until we are 85 or 90. We want to plan to be able to stay in our homes as long as possible. We want to have a social life; you want to allow for not being able to drive the car. Get into the village so you can walk out the door, go to the church, meet the girls, have a coffee, get your bread in the bakery and be independent for as long as possible - and don’t be isolated, because it is unhealthy.
This is Irish Country Living! We’re rural people who need the fresh air and space.
Ok! If you don’t currently have access to the garden, put in a set of double doors. They will give you the best value you’ll ever spend. Make sure the double doors are facing west or south and that little step will bring the outside in and suddenly, you have another room in the house; an outdoor room.
In Living Life this week, Hugh Wallace discusses his approach to creating homes in rural Ireland. /Joe McCallion
For the family with the historical old farmhouse who are trying to work out the most fair and practical solution for the future generation. For example, the child who has been farming is now ready to settle down and start their own family. What would you do?
There is huge emotional attachment to old houses like these. There is also the issue of this sibling getting the farm and farmhouse and the other siblings left wondering what is going to happen to them. Families need to be upfront and straightforward about this.
Ideally, the parents should work towards having their own home on a single level. Possibly attached to the main property, so they still have their independence and can lock the door between the two families, but, if necessity needs, there is a connection. Otherwise, do up the outbuildings.
Finally, if Hugh Wallace became Taoiseach tomorrow morning, what would you be prioritising?
I would be prioritising the construction of social and affordable houses on brown field sites (land that has previously been built on) in our city centres and towns because they are all over the place.
For example, in Kilcock, Co Kildare, on the border with Meath, there are disused factories in the town centre and they should be all residential. We have to have an honest conversation about step-down homes for people who no longer have their family living at home. Where people own these homes that they are stepping down into.
So, they have financial security but that these homes allow them to be independent for the reminder of their active life. If you can achieve that, you are unlocking other houses for families. It will also unlock the buildings in our towns and villages which are actually detracting people from living there. If the place looks horrible and derelict, nobody wants to go into it.
More info
For further information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and up-to-date advice on bringing vacant property back into use, contact the vacant homes officer in your local authority.
Read more
New lease of life for Leenane granary
The Guest Book: The Granary - a first class stay in the premier county
There is a great sense of get-up-and-go within communities across the country. What could be done to add a bit of ‘oomph’ to rural areas?
Get your parish council to put forward a little plan of five things that would make a difference to the village, include derelict buildings [in that plan]. Then, go to the council and say, ‘We want you to refurbish these and put families into them. We want families living in our village.’ Families go to the school; they play in the local sports club and that to me is essential. Make sure you try keep your school open. If you keep the school open, there are little spin-offs; people will go to a café and the local shop after the school run.
When I think about travelling around the country, there is the Blue Goat deli in Ramelton, Donegal which you wouldn’t find in Dublin in terms of quality, but people travel to it. Or if you think of Abbeyleix in Laois, which has come into its own since it was bypassed with the motorway. There’s the bakery and next door the wine shop, then the fabulous little gift shop behind the library and the interior design shop. All of a sudden, I now have half a morning of wandering; it has become a destination and that is what you want to aim for. People need to look out the windows and see the opportunities. There are so many towns and villages where everyone lives around the village and not in the village.
For the young couple who have done the travelling and now want to get started on their dream home, they have been offered a site on the family farm – what would you do?
Personally, [I feel] we should not be building one-off housing in the ?countryside. There are many vacant or derelict houses and this is here we should be starting. Is the grandparents’ house vacant or still standing? On so many farms in the seventies, the grandparents stayed in the old farmhouse and the new family built a bungalow beside the farmhouse. Now, the next generation are looking to build another house, but in the meantime, the traditional house looks as if it is gone past its sell-by date.
My advice for this situation is, if there is an older building or an outbuilding available, they should refurbish one of these. Those buildings come with a vacant property refurbishment grant, which are not insignificant. You can get between €30,0000 and €50,000 and because they are first-time buyers, they are able to avail of that grant.
What would Hugh Wallace do? /Joe McCallion
If someone is going to do a new-build in the country, then it should be interesting. It should not be a huge proportioned house. It should be single story, so it fits in with the landscape and in the future, you can plant around it and it can disappear in to the landscape. I think people build houses that are way too big. I’m not quite sure what you are to do with 2,5000 – 3,0000 square feet. Really 1,500 square feet is adequate and then it is about following the sunlight; grab as much energy through south or west facing windows. Then put in modern technology so you end up with virtually zero footprint. That is all do-able in this day and age.
For the person who has a cottage on half an acre and would like to do something to increase its value without breaking the bank. What would you do?
Sell the house and move into the village. We are all going to live until we are 85 or 90. We want to plan to be able to stay in our homes as long as possible. We want to have a social life; you want to allow for not being able to drive the car. Get into the village so you can walk out the door, go to the church, meet the girls, have a coffee, get your bread in the bakery and be independent for as long as possible - and don’t be isolated, because it is unhealthy.
This is Irish Country Living! We’re rural people who need the fresh air and space.
Ok! If you don’t currently have access to the garden, put in a set of double doors. They will give you the best value you’ll ever spend. Make sure the double doors are facing west or south and that little step will bring the outside in and suddenly, you have another room in the house; an outdoor room.
In Living Life this week, Hugh Wallace discusses his approach to creating homes in rural Ireland. /Joe McCallion
For the family with the historical old farmhouse who are trying to work out the most fair and practical solution for the future generation. For example, the child who has been farming is now ready to settle down and start their own family. What would you do?
There is huge emotional attachment to old houses like these. There is also the issue of this sibling getting the farm and farmhouse and the other siblings left wondering what is going to happen to them. Families need to be upfront and straightforward about this.
Ideally, the parents should work towards having their own home on a single level. Possibly attached to the main property, so they still have their independence and can lock the door between the two families, but, if necessity needs, there is a connection. Otherwise, do up the outbuildings.
Finally, if Hugh Wallace became Taoiseach tomorrow morning, what would you be prioritising?
I would be prioritising the construction of social and affordable houses on brown field sites (land that has previously been built on) in our city centres and towns because they are all over the place.
For example, in Kilcock, Co Kildare, on the border with Meath, there are disused factories in the town centre and they should be all residential. We have to have an honest conversation about step-down homes for people who no longer have their family living at home. Where people own these homes that they are stepping down into.
So, they have financial security but that these homes allow them to be independent for the reminder of their active life. If you can achieve that, you are unlocking other houses for families. It will also unlock the buildings in our towns and villages which are actually detracting people from living there. If the place looks horrible and derelict, nobody wants to go into it.
More info
For further information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and up-to-date advice on bringing vacant property back into use, contact the vacant homes officer in your local authority.
Read more
New lease of life for Leenane granary
The Guest Book: The Granary - a first class stay in the premier county
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