Survey Data
Reg No
21835009
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Dromcolliher Creamery
Original Use
Creamery
In Use As
Museum/gallery
Date
1885 - 1890
Coordinates
138262, 121206
Date Recorded
01/07/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached single-bay single-storey gable-fronted former creamery, dated 1889, having five-bay side (north-east) elevation and two-bay single-storey gable-fronted addition to side (south-west). Now in use as a museum. Pitched slate roof with recent cast-iron chimneystack and rendered rubble stone eaves course. Pitched bitumen roof with rendered eaves course to addition. Rubble stone walls throughout with roughly dressed limestone quoins. Tooled limestone date and commemorative plaques to side (south-west) elevation. Cast-iron water tank to side (north-east) elevation on steel supports. Cast-iron bracing plates to side (south-west) elevation. Camber-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills throughout, having dressed rubble stone voussoirs and replacement timber casement windows. Square-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills to rear elevation and side (north-west) elevation of addition, having rubble stone voussoirs and replacement timber casement windows. Camber-headed door openings throughout. Tooled limestone block-and-start surround and voussoirs to front elevation, having stepped approach and double-leaf timber battened doors surmounted by tripartite overlight. Rubble stone voussoirs and replacement double-leaf timber battened doors surmounted to side (north-east) elevation. Timber battened door surmounted by single-pane overlight to side (south-west) elevation. Rubble stone voussoirs and timber battened door to side (south-east) elevation of addition. Square-headed door openings with rubble stone voussoirs to side (north-west) elevation of addition, having glazed timber door flanked by multiple-pane sidelights.
Appraisal
This well maintained former creamery retains much of its historic form and fabric including large camber-headed windows, doorways, rubble stone walls and tooled limestone sills. The façades of the building are enlivened by artistic details utilising tooled limestone both for quoins and finely crafted voussoirs and door surrounds. Plaque reads: 'October 20th 1989 Unveiled by Dr. Patrick Hillery President of Ireland to commemorate the founding of Ieland's first co-operative creamery in Dromcollogher on the 6th June 1889. To pay tribute to the founders fo the movement and all those who work for co-operation and community development.'