Tyrone House Kilcolgan County Galway Ireland 22nd April 2016

Designed by John Roberts Tyrone House was built in 1779 for Christopher French St. George, part of an old Co. Galway family with Norman Irish roots.

Empty since 1905, the house was torched by the IRA during the War of Independence in 1921 when the house was rumoured to be a base for the Black & Tan army during the War of Independence. An elderly and bed-bound caretaker was reputed to be inside at the time, but the IRA carried his bed, bedding and furniture downstairs, put him in one of the out-offices and then set the place alight.

It has lain derelict since but many of the valuable architectural features have been removed. It is a very atmospheric and melancholy sight especially at sunset.