Should anyone wish for their photograph/video to be removed please send a PM and it will be done immediately* Lyre Cottage is over 250 years old and enjoyed the distinction of being possibly the last rambling house in Ireland. It was lived and worked in as a farm operated by Maggie Kirwan whose nephew Billy is now the Fear a'Tí. The house was in its original condition, furnished with traditional i
tems throughout such as the fire irons, cooking pots etc. The roof is made of corrugated sheeting, over-laying the original thatch and roof timbers, and the thatch work can be viewed from inside. For some 25 years the house was used as a film studio for the 'Bachelors in Trouble' films, chronicling the antics of two bachelor brothers, and a rambling house, driven from the start by the force of nature that was musician Marie O' Shea (nee Keohan), who sadly passed away in 2016. Marie's mother Babs Keohan (nee Phelan) held music nights for many years for neighbours and friends at the nearby townsland of Briska Upper Kilrossanty, and both Babs and her husband Thomas performed, and passed their love of music on to their children and grandchildren. Each Thursday night, for the Summer season, Lyre came to life through music song and laughter. People "rambled" in bringing instruments, songs, stories and poems adding to the resident Lyre musicians and entertainers. Young people attended and performed and the Fear an Tí always had a special regard for them, as they will hopefully continue the rambling house tradition into the future. Lyre was run by dedicated volunteers, with no admission charge, but donations were welcomed for tea, home-made cakes, biscuits served mid-way through the evening. We are very grateful for the support of Waterford City & County Council, and the annual contribution towards running costs, under the Waterford Community fund scheme. Lyre closed it's doors in the Summer of 2018. A new potential venue was identified in 2019, however the onset of the Covid panedemic put plans on hold. Tony Walsh
Chairperson
Lyre Heritage Committee
Email; [email protected]
Page admin; Roisin O' Shea
Lyre Rambling House
