house, TULLY MORE (BALLYSHANNON) · NIAH 40910754

Despite some alterations, this appealing early nineteenth-century vernacular house retains much of its early character and form. Of particular interest in the survival of the thatch roof, which is now sadly becoming increasingly rare in Donegal. The enlargement of the window openings and the replacement of the window fittings to the main elevation detracts slightly from its visual appeal and integrity. Modest in scale and architectural ambition, it exhibits the simple and functional form of vernacular building in Ireland. The form of this building, having chimneystacks to the gable ends and central doorway to the original building, suggests that this dwelling is of the ‘direct entry’ type that is characteristic of the vernacular tradition in north-west Ireland. The location of the chimneystacks also suggests that this building was extended to the east by a bay at some stage, probably during the second half of the nineteenth century. The largely blank rear elevation and the fact that the rear elevation addresses the nearest road are also features of many vernacular dwellings in Ireland. This building is an example of a vernacular house that has been extended along its length, which is a characteristic feature of many buildings of its type, and now incorporates a number of outbuildings to either end creating an appealing composition with a long low profile and a stepped roofline. This house represents a good surviving example of a once ubiquitous building type in the rural Irish countryside, and is an integral element of the vernacular heritage of the local area. It is one of a number of thatched dwellings surviving in the rural landscape to the north of Ballyshannon, and makes a positive contribution to its pleasant rural location.