Aoibheann McNamara is a restauranteur, artist and an old soul. At any given time, you can bet she will have several different projects on the go ( for example, she is co-founder of The Tweed Project, which makes handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing with Irish fabrics), and she has a love for making old things new and useful again. She honours the history of things and revels in her ability to re-purpose. You can see examples of this in both her personal and professional life: her restaurant Ard Bia at Nimmos is one of Galway’s best-known eateries.
The site of the restaurant has a history dating back to the 1600s. Meanwhile, at home, Aoibheann transformed an old carpenter’s workshop into a beautifully quirky living space for her and her son. She recently acquired a third space, deep in the heart of the Burren, on the Kilfenora-Ballyvaughan Road near Corofin.
“I call the property The Summerage; it’s a flip on the whole Winterage association with the Burren,” she explains. “It’s a totally made-up word and it’s the idea that ‘summer never ends’ - that kind of thing. And a little bit of honouring the Winterage process.”
A place to slow down
The Summerage aims to celebrate a slower pace of life among the natural beauty and history found within its surroundings. Set on a sprawling 32 acres of land, Aoibheann plans to let nature take its course on the property, which features an extensive hazel forest in addition to the Burren’s iconic, rocky topography. As an ongoing project, its stone walls, outbuildings and derelict cottage will eventually be restored. Currently, Aoibheann is growing vegetables within the walled garden to supply Ard Bia back in Galway.
The Summerage is an ongoing project; eventually Aoibheann will have the derelict cottage restored \ Odhran Ducie
“We’re already taking [the vegetables] all the time now,” she says. “[Over the summer], the lettuces were massive. The garden was planted by Liz Griffith [who is a professionally trained gardener]. She ended up planting the whole garden with her husband, Alan.”
Alan also helped Aoibheann build a treehouse, which is where she and her son sleep when they are on the property (this is a temporary arrangement while building plans are underway).
“Alan’s now going to build a glass house out of reclaimed windows for propagating the smaller plants,” Aoibheann adds. “With construction prices being so high, I’m stalling on the building for about a year, but we’ll redevelop the shed and put a sauna in there and then make a hot tub with old whiskey barrels. We’ll bring in some bee hives (from Open Hive) and continue with the reforestation. We will plant fruit trees with Burren Beo and get grants for reforestation of indigenous native trees, which is a four-year project. Everything will be ongoing, apart from the build.”
Big plans
Eventually, Aoibheann sees The Summerage as a high-end eco-escape. She is working with Dublin-based architect Mike Haslam to design and carry out the plans for the property.
“Between maintaining the biodiversity of the place, reforestation and growing produce for the restaurant, the ultimate goal would be to have a super-exclusive rental for a week at a time with access to the whole property and uninterrupted views of the Burren,” she says. “I’m excited to create something new for a space within a place.”
The Summerage is also home to two miniature horses \ Odhran Ducie
It is apparent that Aoibheann can’t believe her luck; having been able to purchase such a unique property in an environment like the Burren. It is certainly secluded – the forest blends into the landscape and the old stone buildings blend in, too. It will take a lot of investment to get the property to where Aoibheann wants it to be, but it holds all of the appeal she looks for in spaces and projects: it has history, character and provides future opportunities for professional and personal growth.
“Ten years it was on the market,” she says. “This was a 1930s land commission house – a man named Patrick lived here. I believe he was a herdsman who was housed – that’s just my understanding. There were six adjoining outhouses.”
Need for nature
I ask Aoibheann what the appeal was for her to take on such an immense project – perhaps she feels this space promotes positive mental health?
“My home in Galway is so beautiful and is very much removed from [the city centre],” she explains. “I have amazing positive mental health there. But here, the nature; the garden makes me feel so happy. As you get older you want more nature. I’m very drawn to the energy of the Burren.”
Love what’s there
It may take time and investment, but Aoibheann feels this property is worth repurposing and highlighting what is already there – including the run-down buildings. I ask if restoring derelict properties is something she thinks we, as a nation, should be doing more of. After all, we keep hearing that the most sustainable home is the one which is already built.
Aoibheann travels to the property in the Burren regularly with her canine friend, Puffy \ Odhran Ducie
“Restoring my house [in Galway] was a beautiful process,” she says. “I suppose people are nervous that these types of properties can be a money pit – but, like, they’re also an amazing adventure. This is the thing that’s going to be enveloping you for the rest of your life. Architecture is the most vibrant of art forms because we co-exist in them. I don’t understand why there are so many derelict properties [in Ireland]; we need to change that.”
The Winterage
The Summerage is also a home to the annual Burren Winterage; the eons-old farming tradition of bringing cattle into special pastures over the winter months. Aoibheann’s property takes in cattle during the winter months as part of the tradition. It is also home to two miniature ponies; she says they love having the extra company of the local cattle.
“The cows arrived last week and they will now do their thing, which is to eat, to remove the developing scrub and build themselves up over the winter months,” she says.
For more information visit ardbia.com
Read more
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Aoibheann McNamara is a restauranteur, artist and an old soul. At any given time, you can bet she will have several different projects on the go ( for example, she is co-founder of The Tweed Project, which makes handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing with Irish fabrics), and she has a love for making old things new and useful again. She honours the history of things and revels in her ability to re-purpose. You can see examples of this in both her personal and professional life: her restaurant Ard Bia at Nimmos is one of Galway’s best-known eateries.
The site of the restaurant has a history dating back to the 1600s. Meanwhile, at home, Aoibheann transformed an old carpenter’s workshop into a beautifully quirky living space for her and her son. She recently acquired a third space, deep in the heart of the Burren, on the Kilfenora-Ballyvaughan Road near Corofin.
“I call the property The Summerage; it’s a flip on the whole Winterage association with the Burren,” she explains. “It’s a totally made-up word and it’s the idea that ‘summer never ends’ - that kind of thing. And a little bit of honouring the Winterage process.”
A place to slow down
The Summerage aims to celebrate a slower pace of life among the natural beauty and history found within its surroundings. Set on a sprawling 32 acres of land, Aoibheann plans to let nature take its course on the property, which features an extensive hazel forest in addition to the Burren’s iconic, rocky topography. As an ongoing project, its stone walls, outbuildings and derelict cottage will eventually be restored. Currently, Aoibheann is growing vegetables within the walled garden to supply Ard Bia back in Galway.
The Summerage is an ongoing project; eventually Aoibheann will have the derelict cottage restored \ Odhran Ducie
“We’re already taking [the vegetables] all the time now,” she says. “[Over the summer], the lettuces were massive. The garden was planted by Liz Griffith [who is a professionally trained gardener]. She ended up planting the whole garden with her husband, Alan.”
Alan also helped Aoibheann build a treehouse, which is where she and her son sleep when they are on the property (this is a temporary arrangement while building plans are underway).
“Alan’s now going to build a glass house out of reclaimed windows for propagating the smaller plants,” Aoibheann adds. “With construction prices being so high, I’m stalling on the building for about a year, but we’ll redevelop the shed and put a sauna in there and then make a hot tub with old whiskey barrels. We’ll bring in some bee hives (from Open Hive) and continue with the reforestation. We will plant fruit trees with Burren Beo and get grants for reforestation of indigenous native trees, which is a four-year project. Everything will be ongoing, apart from the build.”
Big plans
Eventually, Aoibheann sees The Summerage as a high-end eco-escape. She is working with Dublin-based architect Mike Haslam to design and carry out the plans for the property.
“Between maintaining the biodiversity of the place, reforestation and growing produce for the restaurant, the ultimate goal would be to have a super-exclusive rental for a week at a time with access to the whole property and uninterrupted views of the Burren,” she says. “I’m excited to create something new for a space within a place.”
The Summerage is also home to two miniature horses \ Odhran Ducie
It is apparent that Aoibheann can’t believe her luck; having been able to purchase such a unique property in an environment like the Burren. It is certainly secluded – the forest blends into the landscape and the old stone buildings blend in, too. It will take a lot of investment to get the property to where Aoibheann wants it to be, but it holds all of the appeal she looks for in spaces and projects: it has history, character and provides future opportunities for professional and personal growth.
“Ten years it was on the market,” she says. “This was a 1930s land commission house – a man named Patrick lived here. I believe he was a herdsman who was housed – that’s just my understanding. There were six adjoining outhouses.”
Need for nature
I ask Aoibheann what the appeal was for her to take on such an immense project – perhaps she feels this space promotes positive mental health?
“My home in Galway is so beautiful and is very much removed from [the city centre],” she explains. “I have amazing positive mental health there. But here, the nature; the garden makes me feel so happy. As you get older you want more nature. I’m very drawn to the energy of the Burren.”
Love what’s there
It may take time and investment, but Aoibheann feels this property is worth repurposing and highlighting what is already there – including the run-down buildings. I ask if restoring derelict properties is something she thinks we, as a nation, should be doing more of. After all, we keep hearing that the most sustainable home is the one which is already built.
Aoibheann travels to the property in the Burren regularly with her canine friend, Puffy \ Odhran Ducie
“Restoring my house [in Galway] was a beautiful process,” she says. “I suppose people are nervous that these types of properties can be a money pit – but, like, they’re also an amazing adventure. This is the thing that’s going to be enveloping you for the rest of your life. Architecture is the most vibrant of art forms because we co-exist in them. I don’t understand why there are so many derelict properties [in Ireland]; we need to change that.”
The Winterage
The Summerage is also a home to the annual Burren Winterage; the eons-old farming tradition of bringing cattle into special pastures over the winter months. Aoibheann’s property takes in cattle during the winter months as part of the tradition. It is also home to two miniature ponies; she says they love having the extra company of the local cattle.
“The cows arrived last week and they will now do their thing, which is to eat, to remove the developing scrub and build themselves up over the winter months,” she says.
For more information visit ardbia.com
Read more
Airfield Estate’s Dr Kirstie McAdoo is challenging consumer food perceptions
Journey to the Celtic heart of North America
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