House in Derrykillew

Detached five-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c. 1820 and extended c. 1870, having modern single-bay addition to the west gable end. Pitched thatched roof, recently renewed, having decorative ropework to ridge, and with two rendered chimneystacks (one to the east gable end, and one to the east side of centre). Smooth rendered walls. Square-headed window openings with replacement two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows and painted sills. Square-headed door opening, offset to the east side of centre, having replacement timber battened door with glazed panel. Set well-back from road in elevated north-to-south sloping site with long approach avenue to rural road to the south. Modern house adjacent to the east, single-storey outbuildings to site. Located in the rural landscape to the north-east of Belleek and a short distance to the north of the border between Donegal and Fermanagh and, subsequently, the border between Ireland and North Ireland.

Despite some modern alterations, this appealing and well-maintained vernacular house retains much of its early character and form. Modest in scale and architectural ambition, it exhibits the simple and functional form of vernacular building in Ireland. Of particular interest in the survival of the thatch roof, although recently renewed, which is now sadly becoming increasingly rare in Donegal. The form of this building, having chimneystacks to the gable ends and a central doorway to the original building to the east, 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 greatly extended to the west at some stage, probably during the second half of the nineteenth century, or that it was originally two attached dwellings that were later combined to form a single house. 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. The largely blank rear elevation is a feature of many vernacular dwellings in Ireland. 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 makes a positive contribution to its pleasant rural location to the north-east of Belleek, and just to the north of the border with Northern Ireland.