Salvage from old hospitals, churches and even an old hardware store went into one Mayo man’s home, while his garden tells stories in stone
Asking price: €395,000
Agent: DNG Michael Boland (096) 76557
Martin O’Hara’s Co Mayo garden rocks. And certainly has tonnes of them arranged in it. Inspired by monuments like Newgrange, constructed by our ancestors thousands of years ago, O’Hara’s hobby sees him using stones of all sizes pulled from his land, to create arrangements on his three-acre holding to commemorate their efforts. He’s had this hobby for 11 years.
The exterior of Martin O’Hara’s home outside Foxford. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
The outdoor creations and sculptures which surround his whitewashed modernised cottage at Lismorane, Callow, outside Foxford, include circles of standing stones, elaborate curved belts and other stacked monuments as Martin’s nod, he says, both to an ancient world past and a sustainable future ahead.
The house, which is located off the N26, halfway between Swinford and Foxford in Co Mayo, was built in 1936. “Lismorane looks brand new with its white walls and timber, but it’s an old house and it was run down when I got it. It had been owned by Bill Mulligan. I knew him, he was a nice man, but he had no family, so it was left to the neighbours after he died. By the time I bought it in 2005, it had been empty for years.
“As we were reclaiming the land, we found so many stones – and I wanted to utilise them. I’ve worked with stone for over 30 years, and I like to draw something and then try to recreate it in the garden. I love architecture and doodling, and coming up with ideas for the garden. I wanted to build a pyramid in stone for the craic, but I decided on the circle of stones instead. I’m inspired by the megalithic age.”
The patio area designed by Martin O’Hara. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
When O’Hara bought the house 20 years ago, it was totally “overgrown and surrounded by cattle fields. You couldn’t even see it from the road”.
It became a passion project for the local Foxford man. “I didn’t move in until nine years ago, so I was working away on it for a while. I also like to restore old buildings and have restored six over the years and sold them on as soon as they were done.”
The kitchen at Lismorane. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
O’Hara had previously lived nearby with his late wife Sheila and four children, running the family bakery O’Hara’s in Foxford. “It’s been in the family for generations – since 1951. My nieces and nephews are in charge of it now.”
When Martin and Sheila bought the old Mulligan house they had planned to look after the garden together but sadly, Sheila passed away soon after the purchase. “Previously we had a big house, but a small garden. Now I’ve done it myself and it’s a bit different.” The garden also features a mix of mature and newly planted trees and shrubs, as well as lawn and small green house.
A bathroom at Lismorane. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
“When we first got married, we lived in a one-bed cottage near Lough Talt. An old gentleman up the road showed me how to build with stone, and that skill stayed with me.” O’Hara has since created stone installations on all his properties. “I’d love coming back from a busy day at work, switching off completely and just spending time working in the gardens. I learned a lot too. All the stones I used for the paths are granite and fieldstone dug straight from the land. We also have a mixing bowl from the bakery fixed on to one of the sculptures. It’s a bit of craic.”
“I really enjoy sourcing materials and reusing whatever I can – it’s part sustainability, part obsession.”
Inside, his open plan home features church-salvaged beams, windowsills made from old church pews, and rescued original stained glass creations.
The living room space at Lismorane. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
The kitchen, which is accessible from the patio, has maple floors, spotlights, electric roof windows, and runs into the open plan living room and dining room space. The maple floors across the 950 sq ft home were laid by a carpenter from Ballina. “We used timber I sourced from Archers Hardware there,” says O’Hara.
Roof beams across the living area are reclaimed pitch pine from two different churches – one in Castleknock, another in Sligo. “I’ve always believed old materials have more character than anything new,” he says.
“The pitch pine I salvaged from those same church beams, is also used for skirting boards and architraves around the house, including the kitchen. I also have a utility room and bathroom all on one floor.”
The bedroom at Lismorane. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
While there’s just one bedroom, he points out that there’s plenty of space alongside to extend the house further.
This is also a modern, well-insulated property. Energy-efficient features include triple-glazed aluminium windows, full interior and exterior insulation, a ventilation system, air-to-water heating, cedar fascia and soffits.
“The house is fitted with a heat pump I installed about nine years ago with local plumbers, making it surprisingly energy efficient. My total annual electricity bill, covering heating, cooking, and hot water, is only about €1,200 a year. That’s for everything. It’s not bad.
A stone sculpture at Lismorane incorporates an old baking pot. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
O’Hara says he misses peat fires and flames, which would have defined country living, but enjoys the underfloor heating. “The underfloor heating is warm and clean – you don’t feel like you’re in an old house with it.
“I love art, that’s why the walls are white. You don’t really need anything else. I also like music, so there are some reference pieces to Bob Dillon around the living room, but I’ll be taking them with me.”
The roof tiles are Bangor slate. “The slates came from an old hospital in Ballina. They’re exceptionally good for longevity and really durable, especially for the climate up here. They’ll last for centuries.”
A aerial view of Martin O’Hara’s extensive creations in stone. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
O’Hara painted the outside walls of the courtyard white, cladding it with Canadian red cedar, which he imported through a supplier in Kerry. “I painted the walls white here too and hung up lights above the patio table. It’s a great spot for long summer nights.”
The house is surrounded by yellow granite sourced from S&N Granite stone suppliers in Wexford. “It’s a costly material, but it gives the home its solid, timeless feel.”
“I’ve poured years of work and care into this place, and I’ll miss it,” says O’Hara. “But I’ve one more project in me – downsizing. The family are all around the area, so it will be in Foxford, which is around 10 minutes down the road.
The buyer will be someone who wants a modern retreat in the countryside, he says. “The energy efficiency makes it very cheap to run and it’s ready to move in. I’ll definitely do something else with stone at my next home.”
DNG Michael Boland seeks €395,000.