Derelict Nation Blog has now moved over to The Vanishing Present website.

 Derelict Nation has now moved over to

 The Vanishing Present website

The website contains a more comprehensve range of all the abandoned and decaying places I have visited and is far easier to navigate than this blog.  I hope you enjoy it and happy exploring.  Thanks, Sarah.

Derelict Nation changes to The Vanishing Present.

Derelict Nation is changing into a new website The Vanishing Present. Coming very soon!

Sarah Stevens. The Vanishing Present @ The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Wicklow

LAUNCHING Saturday 14 Sept 2013 @ 4pm
The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Free admission. All welcome. Wine reception.

T: 0402 38529 | E: info@tinahely-courthouse.ie | 

www.tinahely-courthouse.ie

The Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
has the pleasure of inviting you and your guest to the opening of  THE VANISHING PRESENT, Sarah Stevens.

The Vanishing Present is an art project that documents abandoned spaces and their possessions. Artist Sarah Stevens uses photography, sculpture and drawing to record homes, schools, hotels, train stations, factories and other empty spaces.
These beautiful, decaying museums lie forgotten in every community in Ireland. Some are a consequence of the financial collapse, but many more have been around for longer.
Abandoned spaces contain personal objects. Clocks, photo albums, toothbrushes, religious statues, postcards and cutlery. These objects tell a story of a person, a way of life and the time in which they were used. They are much-cared for things that remain without purpose long after the owner has left. These abandoned and bereaved objects signify the transitory nature of life.
Stepping into a derelict building feels like stepping into another time. The past is preserved in the here and now, for a short time at least. Abandoned spaces are under constant threat from vandalism, theft and re-development. As a result these capsules of preserved time are slowly vanishing. It is important that the vanishing present is recorded and valued because it will eventually be lost and irretrievable. An absence that you didn’t realise was there.
The title for the exhibition The Vanishing Present is taken from an article of the same name written by Jane Humphries for Circa Magazine.
For more information about this ongoing project look at www.vanishingpresent.com
Also look at www.derelictireland.blogspot.com
 

 

Exhibition Launches Saturday 14 Sept 2013 @ 4pm
ADMISSION FREE | All Welcome
The Courthouse Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Wicklow County Council in making this exhibition possible.
THE COURTHOUSE ARTS CENTRE
Exhibition runs from Sept 14 – Oct 17th.
Gallery Opening Hours Thurs –Sat 10am – 5pm.

Lough Glynn House

Lough Glynn House is an extensive building comprising house, church, school and out buildings. It overlooks an artificial lake and is surrounded by a demense. 

The house was built by the Dillon family in 1750. It has a grand entrance that leads off into various large hallways and into the living area of the house.  The house suffered a fire in the late 19th century and had it's top mansard floor removed. After this time Lough Glynn house went through its first period of abandonment. 

In 1903 the estate was sold to the church.  A convent was opened, teaching young women Home Economics. The sisters established a dairy and Lough Glynn butter and cheese was famous all over the world.

Photograph from loughglynn.blogspot.ie

 

In the 1970's a nursing home was opened for retired Sisters of the convent.  Later on the nursing home took on other patients.

The church was built in the 1960's.

 

The church building is divided into 3 floors.  The distinctive window runs the height of the building.  The top floor of the church was converted into nursing home accommodation.  The rooms are like cells, and the whole construction has no ceiling. The roof is open and exposed to the elements.

The convent estate was sold to different people.  There were plans to turn it into a lakeside hotel.   It has been in a derelict condition for a few years. Large sections of the roof have been removed and the whole building is suffering extensive water damage.
 In 2013 Lough Glynn house is for sale again.  

More photos on Flickr

There are more photos to view on Magnum Lady Blog.

Click here for more information about Lough Glynn House.

The Hostel

Entrance

Welcome, Bienvenue, Galway, Kerry 

This is an abandoned hostel I found in a touristy spot of Ireland. It almost looks like a holiday camp with its chalets and parkland. 

Chalet

Chalet

I visited the hostel just after dawn.  I was interested to see if the morning light would add a different quality to my photographs. 

Accommodation

Morning Light

The outside of the hostel was interesting in itself.  However, the inside was just incredible. Although vandals had been in and smashed some windows, the interior was fairly intact.  Judging from different calendars around the place it looked like the hostel closed in the mid-noughties.  The interior of the main living block was filled with paraphernalia that transported me back to a different time.  I felt as if I was in the 1990's again.

Bunk Beds

Residents Room

The Rising Sun

Bedroom

This place definitely pre-dates the Celtic Tiger.  I don't know of it's history, but I wonder if it closed because holiday makers began to expect something more fancy.  There is a fairly new hotel nearby.  I felt sad and nostalgic in this place, it was chock-full of postcards and notes and memories.  There were loads of little bits that visitors had left behind. It is obvious that the hostel was a real home from home for whoever stayed there. 

Residents Room

Top of the fridge

Organ

Picture

Organ

Living Room

Dining area

As always I am in wonder about the things that people leave behind them.  In the living area there was a drawer of letters.  It had been rummaged through.  My friend took time to read the letters while I was taking photographs.  Some dated from the 1940's.  There were Christmas cards that were 70 years old and obviously had been kept and treasured for a long time.  It is always very strange to see the such personal items discarded in such a manner.

Draw with old letters

Old Letters

Top of the fridge

There were lots of old fridges in the living area with unusual photographs on top of them of disabled people trying to get up and down stairs.  Every surface of the living area was cluttered with interesting things like these.  I would have loved to have had longer here. 

Top of the fridge

Post-it-notes of thanks

Holiday makers left notes to say thanks for their holiday.  These were stuck on to the wall in the living area.

Old TV's

Coca-Cola Advertising Calendar

Entering the kitchen

The Kitchen

Kitchen Closes

Serving Hatch

When I opened the door to the Wardens Office the air was thick and stale.  The door to this room must have been closed for many years, even it's air comes from the past!  Many interesting items in here including keys and foot and mouth powder - must have been used during the foot and mouth epidemic back in 2000. 

Warden's Office

Warden's Desk

Keys

Keys

Check Out

Time to check out.  This hostel has particular relevance for me because it reminds me of hostels I used to stay in when I was younger.  Maybe you stayed here at one time.  I would be glad to hear any stories you have in order to build up a history of the place. 

If you are leaving a comment please do not mention the hostels location.  I do not want to inadvertently attract thieves to this place.