The Present Day Gift Shop

Despite recent extensive alterations, this attractive and well-proportioned former house, which probably dates to the first decades of the nineteenth century, retains much of its early character. Although the fittings to the openings and the natural slate roof have been replaced in recent years, the modern replacements are in keeping with the removed earlier fabric and fail to detract substantially from its visual appeal. Its integrity is diminished by the modern alterations, and the large extension to the rear. This building was probably originally built as a house; its scale suggests by someone of note within the local community. It was later in use as a constabulary barracks, c. 1905 (Ordnance Survey twentieth-five inch map), and possibly as a revenue police barracks in c. 1860 (building in this area indicated as such on Griffith’s Valuation map). An Owen Fallon, district inspector, may have been in charge here in 1894 (Slater’s Directory). It was attached by the IRA in October 1920 during the War of Independence by the attack was beaten off by a reinforced Royal Irish Constabulary force stationed here at the time. It was attacked again in 1921, again without success. It may have remained a barracks until a new Garda station was built in Ardara in 1970. This site, like much of the centre of Ardara, was owned by the Revd. George N. Tredennick of nearby Woodhill House at the time and leased to various individuals. It was later in use as a public house, known as The Central, until c. 2000. Although altered, this building is one of the better surviving traditional buildings in the centre of Ardara, and is a modest addition to the built heritage of the town.