Bolger

Detached five-bay two-storey house, c.1760, with two-bay two-storey return to rear to north. Renovated and extended, c.1900, comprising two-bay single-storey lean-to parallel range along rear elevation to north having single-bay single-storey projecting bay to west with single-bay single-storey canted bay window, timber shopfront inserted to ground floor side (west) elevation, and with single-bay single-storey gabled projecting porch added to front (south). Now in ruins. Roofs now gone (originally gable-ended (lean-to to parallel range)) with traces of slate remaining. Rendered chimney stack. No rainwater goods on eaves course. Gabled roof to porch with slate. Timber bargeboards. Roughcast walls. Unpainted. Rendered walls to porch. Painted. Square-headed openings (including canted bay window, c.1900, to projecting bay to west). Stone sills. Fittings now gone. Square-headed door opening to porch. Fittings now gone. Timber shopfront, c.1900, to ground floor side (west) elevation with pilasters and glazed timber panelled double doors having timber fascia over with raised lettering and moulded cornice. Interior now in ruins. Red brick internal walls. Remains of cast-iron fireplaces. Set back from road perpendicular to road with gravel forecourt to front (south).

This house, although now in ruins, is a fine and substantial building that is of considerable social interest, representing the middle-size houses of the mid eighteenth century. Renovated at the turn of the twentieth century to accommodate a commercial use, the timber shopfront is an attractive addition to the composition, taking the form of a true traditional Irish model, and ought to be preserved in any future renovation works. The shopfront emphasises the social and historic importance of the house as early surviving evidence of the commercialisation of the locality. The house is an imposing feature on the streetscape of Ballitore Hill and is worthy of restoration.