Derelict Nation's Blog Post on Abbey Manor Hotel Creates Widespread Public Reaction

Innishfree Suite.  The Abbey Manor Hotel.  August 2011.

Its been a month since I blogged about the Abbey Manor Hotel in Leitrim.  I visited the hotel on two occasions and photographed the derelict interior.  Everything in the hotel had been left ready for business.  It was as if the owners one day locked up the premises and did not come back. 

Set for dinner

During my visit to the hotel I disturbed a burglar in the process of stealing antique paintings.  It was possible to walk into the hotel from a vandalised door at the rear.


Click here to view the original Abbey Manor Hotel blogpost.


Since putting up this post there has been widespread local, national and even international interest in my pictures of the hotel.  The people of Dromahair were shocked to see a much loved local listed landmark in such a state.  Numerous comments were left on the post expressing concern and also thanks.  Many comments were from people who had got married at the hotel over the years; my favourite comment read 'we know the price of everything and the value of nothing'. 

Entrance to the Innishfree Suite

 Local radio and press took up the story.  It was reported on Shannonside FM, the Leitrim Observer and the Sligo Champion.  Most significantly a Facebook campaign was started to Save the Abbey Manor Hotel.  This group has been very active in finding out who owns the hotel and also trying to re-open it for business.  I have given the group my photographs of the hotel in order to help them with the campaign.  I am currently trying to meet with the group in order to work creatively with them on the Save the Abbey Manor campaign. 

It has been really interesting to see the reaction to my post about the Abbey Manor.  My aim as an artist is to be like a mirror, to show things that are right there, but may not always be obvious.  What I see from the widespread reaction to my pictures is that the Abbey Manor Hotel is special to many, many people.  It is great to see people group together to try and do something practical about it.  It will not become another victim of the recession. 

click here to read about Derelict Nation and the Abbey Manor Hotel in Leitrim Observer

Click here to read about Save the Abbey Manor Hotel in Leitrim Observer 

 
Click here to read about Save the Abbey Manor Hotel in Sligo Champion
 

Click here to visit Save the Abbey Manor Hotel on FacebookClick here to view Save the Abbey Manor Hotel on Facebook.