1926 – Durrow Abbey, Durrow, Co. Offaly

After the second Durrow Abbey House was gutted by fire during the Civil War in 1923. Ralph H. Byrne was commissioned to oversee reconstruction of Durrow Abbey House for Ottoway Graham Toler in 1926. As all that remained of the old house was the exterior walls, a complete redesign was in order. Byrne produced several designs, one with a strong Arts and Crafts style, and the other Tudor Gothic in keeping with the old house. The new house was to be a storey lower, while largely utilising the floor plan of the previous house. Interior designs show an elaborate Arts and Crafts interior, but this was scaled back to more basic interior finish. The house currently sits empty.

Photographs courtesy and copyright of Paul Moore