House in Ballyboe Glencar, County Donegal

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Detached three-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c. 1912. Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks to gable ends (north and south) having clay pots over, and projecting eaves course. Painted roughcast rendered walls with curved corner to the south-west. Square-headed window openings with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows and painted limestone sills. Metal security bars to windows. Central square-headed door opening having timber battened door. Road-fronted to the north of Letterkenny town centre, and a short distance to the north-east of the Donegal County Museum. Modern car park to the rear (east).

This quaint small-scale single-storey house is a rare example of a surviving vernacular house in Letterkenny. It retains its early form and character while its visual expression and integrity are enhance by the retention of salient fabric such as natural slate roof, stone sills, and timber sliding sash windows. The irregular-spacing of the openings creates a pleasing vernacular character. This building was apparently built in 1912 and is a relatively late example of its type. It may retain fabric of an earlier house to site that was in existence in 1837 (Ordnance Survey first edition six-inch map). This modest building makes a positive contribution to the streetscape to the north of Letterkenny town centre, and is an addition to the built heritage of the town as a rare surviving example of a once common building type.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 40502215

Places near here

Picture notes

Humphrey Bolton, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Ian S, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.
Kenneth Allen, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.
Kenneth Allen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.

Donegal County MuseumWorkhouse administration block · 30 yd

Explorer Tom Donegal County Museum is the old workhouse front block from 1845. George Wilkinson designed it, and I bet the poor souls inside wished they had a bit more style. Give that brickwork a proper wave!

graveyard/cemetery78 yd

Explorer Tom Graveyard or cemetery in Letterkenny is sharing its lawn with a former workhouse, opened in 1869. I reckon those masons digging up the road in 1975 didn't expect to find seventy-five skeletons waiting for a new address at Leck.

Ballyboe Glencar Burnt MoundBurnt mound · 188 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Ballyboe Glencar Burnt Mound was discovered during sewer works in 2004 and fully excavated. Only its lower charcoal-stained clay and burnt stone survived after farming disturbed it; no hearth or finds appeared. The charcoal included hazel, alder, holly and willow. Four woods, but no honest answer yet for what was heated.

Quiet Moment TearoomsCafé · 344 yd

Explorer Tom Quiet Moment Tearooms at 94-96 Upper Main Street sounds like a trap for over-thinkers. Sit down and order something overly sweet to calm your nerves.

Children's playground356 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.

Explorer Tom Children's playground in County Donegal was built on a bargain so good the council still argues about who paid for it. Probably nobody. Snap one photo, then put the phone away and actually look around properly.

The Central BarPub · 428 yd

Explorer Tom The Central Bar in Letterkenny is probably judging your shoes while serving pints. It's right on Upper Main Street, so expect some serious local gossip about who kissed whom last Tuesday night.

Aka Big ParkChildren's playground · 499 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this playground.

Explorer Tom Aka Big Park in County Donegal sounds like it was named by a drunk uncle. Probably full of swinging kids and lost socks. Wave at the swings for me on your way through the fun zone.

Man-made underground passage in Ballyboe GlencarMan-made underground passage · 527 ydTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this monument.

Explorer Tom Man-made underground passage in Ballyboe Glencar is now just a memory buried under the Letterkenny town park. A digger accidentally knocked out a roof slab in 1997, revealing a chamber with five stone lintels and some tiny recesses in the walls. It’s a fantastic yarn to tell anyone who thinks modern construction crews don’t stumble upon ancient secrets.

Battlefield in Ballyboe Lisenan,ballyraine,farsetmore,gortlee,kiltoy,magheranan,glebe (castlewray Ed)Battlefield · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Battlefield in Ballyboe Lisenan in County Donegal is another patch of land where things went sideways centuries ago. Now it’s just a quiet field with a lot to say if you listen. Linger, it's not going anywhere and neither should you.

Battle of FarsetmoreBattle · 1.5 mi

Mullan HillMountain / peak · 2.6 miTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.

Explorer Tom Mullan Hill in County Donegal is the perfect spot to forget your phone exists for exactly ten minutes. A good place to forget your phone for ten minutes, unless you want to die of boredom.

Glendoon HillMountain / peak · 3.0 miTom: I’m here to help · Computer-made picture. It does not show this mountain top.

Explorer Tom Glendoon Hill stands in County Donegal, guarding its secrets with the enthusiasm of a shy cat. The name sounds like a word you’d whisper to a confused pigeon, yet here it remains, perfectly solid and utterly unbothered by our lack of directions.

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