An Abandoned Mansion In The Irish Forests
'I had no option but to give up the keys, and suspecting what was on I pointed out to the leader that the house was not Colonel Moore's property. This had no effect.
'I sat up all night hoping that when all would be clear I could save even a portion of the library. At four o'clock I heard four loud explosions. At five I went to the place and found the whole house was seething in a mass of flames. I at once saw that all was hopeless.'
At the time of the fire, the owner was Colonel Moore's brother, the novelist George Moore, who wrote a letter to The Morning Post two weeks later describing the drama
+8
View gallery
At the time of the fire, the owner was Colonel Moore's brother, the novelist George Moore, who wrote a letter to The Morning Post two weeks later describing the drama
Once surrounded by pristine manicured lawns and neat gardens, the photos show how trees have slowly crept up to and inside the mansion.
It was bought by Mayo County Council last year for 400,000 euro with promises of turning it into a tourist destination.
The images were captured by local supermarket delivery driver Tsung Ho Lam, 32, who enjoys aerial photography in his spare time.
The father-of-four said: 'We were just passing by in the car and I had the drone with me so I decided to take a look.
'The photos are beautiful and I'm really proud of them. The house is important in Irish history.
'It just shows the power of nature.'
After the fire the Moore family abandoned their ancestral home and in the 96 years it has stood empty - has been lost to the surrounding forest.
Abandoned and left to rot for almost a century - the house will be brought back to life thanks to a council-backed multi-million-euro restoration project.
Mayo County Council plans to transform the house and its huge 80-acre estate into a nature reserve and major visitor attraction of 'national importance'.
Officials say a master plan for the project will be completed by the end of the year and work to bring the site back to life will begin within months.
It is not accessible to the public due to its poor condition and these incredible photos reveal how the abandoned ruins look today.
The photos were captured by Tsung Ho Lam, 32, who runs the Aerial Photography Mayo business as a hobby.
Work to transform the site will get underway within a matter of months, according to Padraig Philbin, head of tourism at County Mayo Council.
He has said whilst work on the restoration of the historic site is yet to get underway, a masterplan for the estate's review is only weeks away from completion.
The council has - so far - acquired 450,000 euro worth of funding for the seven figure project.
Once completed, the restoration will see the development of a recreational park and restoration of the estate's historic walled garden.
The acquisition includes the house, a courtyard and a walled garden, along with 80 acres of woodland.
The surrounding forest and woodland area will be preserved and protected for the creation of a huge nature reserve.
Padraig Philbin, of County Mayo Council, said: 'We hope to have the plan finished by the end of the year.
'We already have the funding to restore the walled garden and it is a long-term project.
'But some of the work will start within a matter of months. The plan is very close to approval. It will be a multi-million-euro restoration.
'It is an incredibly important project for the area. It's a nationally important project and is part of bigger plans around tourism for the area.'
Tsung, who took the photos in August, added: 'I do this in my free time and try to get around as many places as I can around Mayo.
'I love to explore the historic sites and landmarks.
'It's such a gorgeous area but you definitely get a different perspective from the sky.'
'I sat up all night hoping that when all would be clear I could save even a portion of the library. At four o'clock I heard four loud explosions. At five I went to the place and found the whole house was seething in a mass of flames. I at once saw that all was hopeless.'
At the time of the fire, the owner was Colonel Moore's brother, the novelist George Moore, who wrote a letter to The Morning Post two weeks later describing the drama
+8
View gallery
At the time of the fire, the owner was Colonel Moore's brother, the novelist George Moore, who wrote a letter to The Morning Post two weeks later describing the drama
Once surrounded by pristine manicured lawns and neat gardens, the photos show how trees have slowly crept up to and inside the mansion.
It was bought by Mayo County Council last year for 400,000 euro with promises of turning it into a tourist destination.
The images were captured by local supermarket delivery driver Tsung Ho Lam, 32, who enjoys aerial photography in his spare time.
The father-of-four said: 'We were just passing by in the car and I had the drone with me so I decided to take a look.
'The photos are beautiful and I'm really proud of them. The house is important in Irish history.
'It just shows the power of nature.'
After the fire the Moore family abandoned their ancestral home and in the 96 years it has stood empty - has been lost to the surrounding forest.
Abandoned and left to rot for almost a century - the house will be brought back to life thanks to a council-backed multi-million-euro restoration project.
Mayo County Council plans to transform the house and its huge 80-acre estate into a nature reserve and major visitor attraction of 'national importance'.
Officials say a master plan for the project will be completed by the end of the year and work to bring the site back to life will begin within months.
It is not accessible to the public due to its poor condition and these incredible photos reveal how the abandoned ruins look today.
The photos were captured by Tsung Ho Lam, 32, who runs the Aerial Photography Mayo business as a hobby.
Work to transform the site will get underway within a matter of months, according to Padraig Philbin, head of tourism at County Mayo Council.
He has said whilst work on the restoration of the historic site is yet to get underway, a masterplan for the estate's review is only weeks away from completion.
The council has - so far - acquired 450,000 euro worth of funding for the seven figure project.
Once completed, the restoration will see the development of a recreational park and restoration of the estate's historic walled garden.
The acquisition includes the house, a courtyard and a walled garden, along with 80 acres of woodland.
The surrounding forest and woodland area will be preserved and protected for the creation of a huge nature reserve.
Padraig Philbin, of County Mayo Council, said: 'We hope to have the plan finished by the end of the year.
'We already have the funding to restore the walled garden and it is a long-term project.
'But some of the work will start within a matter of months. The plan is very close to approval. It will be a multi-million-euro restoration.
'It is an incredibly important project for the area. It's a nationally important project and is part of bigger plans around tourism for the area.'
Tsung, who took the photos in August, added: 'I do this in my free time and try to get around as many places as I can around Mayo.
'I love to explore the historic sites and landmarks.
'It's such a gorgeous area but you definitely get a different perspective from the sky.'
Advertisements
15 December 2023
Advertisements
