Home | Heritage at Risk in Northern Ireland

Heritage at Risk(v1.0)

Andrew McClelland 15/01/2003 00:00:00

HB Ref No:
HB12/15/012

Address
NECARNE CASTLE CASTLE IRVINE DEMESNE IRVINESTOWN CO.FERMANAGH

Townland:

Status:
Currently at Risk

Listing Grade:
B+

HARNI Number:
HARNI 12/15/001

Conservation Area:
No

Condition:
Ruinous Grade 1

Industrial Archeology:

Occupancy:
Vacant

Vernacular:

Degree of Risk:
Critical

Thatched:
No

Availability:
Unavailable

Monument:

Current Building Use:

Derelict:

Description

Necarne Castle is evidently one of the more problematic buildings at risk in County Fermanagh, having featured in the first Buildings at Risk catalogue, along with the estate cottages at Ballagh (see p. 74) and the double-pile Georgian country house at Donagh (see p. 77). Described simply in its listing record as a “large mansion house in decorated castellated style with stone walls partly rendered”, it has lain empty for a considerable period of time. The grounds of the castle have been successfully developed for equestrian sports, with the substantial courtyard buildings having been sensitively restored for use as part of an agricultural college. In the meantime, the main building remains mothballed for want of a new use and all of its many and varied openings have been boarded up (albeit attractively) to deter vandals. While rescuing the building would certainly be a major undertaking, it is of such importance that all avenues must be explored to find a sustainable new use. Refs: MBR