Our New Home

[Badger74]

For the over 20 years after my first visit to Ireland I have always wanted to live there, and the plan was to do that when I retired, which is still a long way off. A couple of years ago few things occurred that made me re-evaluate my life and after discussing it with the family, we put our house in Leeds up for sale. We wanted a house with a bit of land so that we could start a bit of "The Good Life". It took over 2 years to sell, but we moved to Killala, Co. Mayo last December, found a house and had our offer excepted at the end of January. After 5 long months we got the keys to this, at the beginning of July.

July 22...001 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

DSC09453 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

DSC09456 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

DSC09457 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr


It needs complete renovation inside and we will add an extention to fit a separate kitchen and bathroom upstairs, but it sits on an acre which consists of usable out buildings, the ruined original cottage, overgrown garden and a third of it is wooded.

I made a start on getting the lawn under control yesterday, but the weather today is WET so I'll have to wait until next weekend to finish it.

July 25..001 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

July 25..002 by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

So instead of the garden, I took the opportunity to fit an extra front door lock, but as the house doesn't have electricity it was dull inside and I need a head torch to see what I was doing, but I didn't have one with me. So a bit of improvising with a buff and torch and I ended up with this:

Improvised head torch by chrstphrferg, on Flickr

It did the trick.

My intention is to keep adding to the thread over the next year. We are hoping to be in it this time next year, and that is when the 'homesteading' aspect will start.

 

[Grotzilla]

Wow what an amazing project! That's something I would love to do myself, I wish you the very best of luck and happiness.

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[sunndog]

Looks like a cracking place fella, hope you and yours many happy years there

 

[Toddy]

Very best of luck with it
It sounds like a lot of work, but with space to breathe, to do stuff, to actively be productive.

Interested to hear how you and your family get on with it too

atb,
M

 

[British Red]

Good for you!

It will be a heartbreaking, frustrating, nerve rending ride if its anything like ours.

It will also be the best thing you've ever done, we have never regretted it.

Red

 

[johnnytheboy]

First thought, superb, ride on lawn mower ��

 

[Badger74]

Thanks everyone. All the family are settled in as its an area we have been visiting for years, and the youngest has to learn Irish ☺

Ride on lawn mower, hell yeah!

BR, yep, the best of times and the worst of times 😁






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[British Red]

As a minimum consider a mower with trailer. Better yet a mini tractor with a bucket. You will be moving a lot of stuff!

 

[Badger74]

A Mini tractor isn't a bad idea.

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[johnnytheboy]

Mini tractor is a better idea, however, a cigar and a ride in lawnmower is much cooler ����������

 

[British Red]

With an acre or more you do move into needing proper tools, brush cutter, chainsaw, and hedgetrimmers in two stroke for a start!

Best new addition we have made recently is an aluminium scaffolding tower, amazing how useful that is

 

[sunndog]

red speaks wisely.

at least one trailer, a tractor, a bucket, and as a luxury, a pair of pallet forks. Those will pay for themselves so many times over you'll regret every minute you didn't own them....tractor wise i'd say get the biggest, best condition one you can afford/fit round your house

As a farmer i'm obviously a tractor fan and have big uses for one (9hrs in the cab today) but even on a small holding the amount of jobs you can put bucket and forks to is never ending. Esp is theres building work to do as well. Lifting a full pallet of slate at a time to the top of the scaffold is awsome
And scooping out holes in the ground 5 ton at a time never gets boring

 

[Clouston98]

Nice one mate! We did similar and it's stressful at times but the place really feels your own and it's the best thing we've ever done! The best of luck with it all!

 

[TeeDee]

I'm going to be revisiting this thread.

Alot.

Well done - little slice of heaven ,make the most of it!

 

[TeeDee]

Just looking at the phots you sent me Badger , do you have an anticipated cost for internal renovation or not? I'll be over to Ireland within the next 4 weeks so will be having a mooch around myself.

 

[boatman]

Super opportunity but I would be cautious about burdening myself with a lot of powered gear that needs maintenance, fuel etc. If you wanted a quick start I can see rotovating your veg area. for example, but simple mechanical devices like a wheel hoe that you push can cultivate it. Planting an orchard and fruit bushes would take priority for me over buying a mower. Moveable chicken arks with fencing will take care of clearing a lot of ground as well even if you don't want to get into pigs that will do the job better. Or, plan a 3D "farm" from the word go. See Permaculture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN5bSxx6hlI

 

[Badger74]

Any investment in machinery is way of or none existent, it just appealed to the plant op inside me. It was getting the lawn sensible after 5 months of neglect that machinery appealed. The cultivation wont start until the extension and renovations are completed, which we plan on this time next year. The first step was to get chickens and then see how it goes. I need to clear some of the trees and see what we have as I too would like some fruit trees.

Yes Teedee I do; it should get a bit firmed up when we get the house plans sorted this week and I'll let you know by PM. Where in Ireland are you visiting, because if you are my way I can give you a tour.

 

[Robbi]

Welcome Sir

get used to the rain mate, we get LOTS of it over here

It looks a fantastic place and a great project....Health to enjoy

 

[Badger74]

Welcome Sir

get used to the rain mate, we get LOTS of it over here

It looks a fantastic place and a great project....Health to enjoy

Thanks Robbi, I've returned to the land of my forebears, my Nana and Grandad were both from Mayo.

I'm well aware of the rain, I have to walk the dog every day

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Have a shave you scruffy sod.
I guess that's why I haven't seen you around for a while.
Hope you get settled and everything works out for you.