Bantry House: See it While You Can

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bantry House: See it While You Can

francomcdaddy · Member

I'll be around Glengarriff next weekend might take a look. Can you go inside are there tours? How is it set up there.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Self-guided tour: http://www.bantryhouse.com/bantryhouse/

EHannan · Member

I was at Bantry House today and asked about the auction. They indicated that the auction has been cancelled, initially because the firm doing the auction did not get the license, but then apparently some donors stepped in to help. It seems like this is a touch-and-go kind of thing. Off for now, but they are not saying it won't happen in the future...

There are some amazing treasures there. I can't believe they were estimating only $1M from the sale. Perhaps that is because some items are in poor condition. The house itself needs some serious maintenance. Hopefully, they find a way to keep the items in the house and make the needed repairs.

It was a nice visit, but sad to see so many things that need to be done on this great house.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks very much for the update on Bantry House. Many of Ireland's old properties need fixing and lots of money spent on them. Unfortunately without money they slowly decay. What a dilemma - having to sell the contents or the house or both. In England they have the National Trust which preserves historic properties. There are different entities in Ireland but I guess they just don't have the money. I'm thinking of Thoor Ballylee - Yeats tower house - which has been closed for several years because there is no money or incentive to fix flood damage from several years ago. Such a pity.

Judy · Guru

Maybe it's time to bring back the Irish Sweepstakes and use the money to help renovate some of Irelands national treasures.

It would be interesting to get Tony's take on that. Has the Irish government ever considered that? I remember my aunt selling the tickets and even won once by selling a winning ticket.

tony2phones · Guru

Not sure what happens to "Lottery" moneys over here.. there are Grants available but wouldn't know what criteria are needed..

Perhaps Bantry House should look to Fail(t) Ireland pointing out they are on the "Wild Atlantic Way" have ties to the 1916 centenary which might be the next big push?

Thore Ballylee has been passed into the archives of Galway Council who spent more than they had on coastal defences and reconstruction so no chance of any work there for a while.. The Office of Public Works (OPW) who run some sites have had funding reduced again and FAS who used to employ people on "Community Employment" has been moved to the Employment Department with new scam how do you spell scheme's which seem to think Tourism has to be self funding.

Of course I could just be cynical..

tony2phones · Guru

From Yesterdays Examiner.. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bantry-house-holding-out-for-a-white-knight-290012.html

Michele Erdvig · Host

Good article Tony. Seems the owners of Bantry House were very ambivalent about selling the contents. Maybe someone will step up and help them.