Douglas Wallace Architects, Designers and Project Managers have recently been granted planning permission following An Bord Pleanala decision allowing the renovation and extension of Ardfry House, its stables and existing buildings around the walled garden in Oranmore, Co Galway on behalf of local businessman William Greaney.

Ardfry House is one of the fallen great houses of the west of Ireland, situated approximately eight miles south-east of Galway city just outside Oranmore village. The house which is in ruins, stands on a peninsula jutting out into Galway bay with a Martello Tower at it most westerly point. The site was previously home to a castle held by the Blakes, one of the 14 tribe families of Galway, and is steeped in a colourful history. It has uninterrupted views of the Atlantic to the west, south to the Burren and north to Renville Bay and the sailing club.

The granted planning permission allows the Douglas Wallace design team to renovate the main house into six luxury residences of various sizes, each large enough to accommodate a grand piano. It is also proposed to renovate and extend the two existing stable blocks at the rear of main house for use as four courtyard houses. Both client and architectural team are adamant that everything possible will be done to salvage as much of the existing structure as is feasible.

One of the key features of the Ardfry domain is a four acre walled garden, originally the site of a large orchard, positioned on the northern edge with a cut stone quay fronting the waters edge. It is proposed to renovate and extend ten existing buildings into luxury houses around the perimeter of the garden, each of which will have spectacular views of the water and the Burren. An existing boathouse with its own stone jetty is one of the buildings to be refurbished.

The Irish Heritage Council states that the "creative challenge faced by custodians of this heritage is to find appropriate ways to prolong its cultural life, satisfying the requirements of a structure to be safe, stable and durable on one hand while retaining its character and fabric of special interest on the other". John O'Neill of Douglas Wallace is in total agreement with this view and feels that much of our Irish heritage is slowly drifting from us. "It is crucial that tax incentives are available for those who wish to safeguard our historical structures. Custodians of these properties should be rewarded for saving such buildings and structures rather than leaving them in a state of decay. The layering of contemporary features can greatly help to salvage rather than ruin the structures."

The original house has been much altered during its life. The first documented alterations were completed in 1826 when some mild Gothic features were added which included pinnacles and quatrefoil window above the entrance door, battlements on the end, and the Gothic conservatory. A four-storey block at the rear of the house was probably added at this time. In addition, in this sheltered bay with deep moorings, the peninsula itself has had a layering of settlement evidenced by shell middens, ring fort, holy well, a castle with a moat, to the grand country house with its walled garden. The alterations proposed by Douglas Wallace's provide yet another layer reflecting our changed lifestyles and type of residences.

Ardfry House – A Brief History

Ardfry House is situated in Oranmore, Co Galway and is a 33-acre site steeped in history. This manor house was built around 1770 on a peninsula jutting into Galway Bay, previously the site of a castle.

Ardfry was designed as a two-storey house with nine bays, a central pediment to the front and a raised roofed pavilion at either end. It was renovated in the 1820s and updated with some gothic features including a pointed entrance doorway with pinnacles, battlements on the end pavilions and a gothic conservatory with stone piers.

The house has been much altered during its life, the first documented restoration being completed in 1826 when some mild Gothic features were added; pinnacles and quatrefoil window above the entrance door, battlements on the end, and the Gothic conservatory. A four-storey block at the rear of the house was probably added at this time.

The house was residence to Lord Wallscourt whose second wife gradually sold the lead off the roof during the early 1900's to repay her gambling debts and Ardfry House, exposed to the elements, has been falling into disrepair ever since. The house received another brief facelift during early 1970's when it was re-roofed and re-windowed for use in the Paul Newman film, 'The Mackintosh Man'.