Comment by Patrick McCormick on August 17, 2014 at 10:40am

Despite the passionate efforts of people like myself, Mike Ward – and others – the cottage remains in 'limbo' and continues to deteriorate.

I recently decided to try and take some substantive action to break the impasse and commissioned a professional Architectural Heritage Appraisal of the location.

The Architectural Heritage Appraisal was prepared by a RIAI Grade 1 accredited Conservation Architect – who specialises in the assessment and appraisal of architectural heritage sites and has prepared a number of county surveys for the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) which form the basis for ministerial recommendations for the designation of protected structures.  He has also advised local authorities directly on protection of architectural heritage, notably Louth, Meath, Laois, Longford, Dublin, Fingal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Wicklow and Kerry.

His Architectural Heritage Appraisal presents an irrefutable case for, and professionally substantiates, the totally UNIQUE cultural significance of this iconic location – which really should be a gem in Connemara’s tourism crown.

The Architectural Heritage Appraisal was submitted to Galway County Council (supported by an 8,500 signature petition) requesting that the Council add the cottage and its curtilage to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS).

The purpose of addition to the RPS would be to halt further deterioration of the cottage and very importantly – it’s curtilage – before everything is lost forever.  Neither should be allowed to, needlessly and unnecessarily, rot away into oblivion.

The remains of the house have been allowed to deteriorate into ruinous condition. It is essential to protect what is left from further decay, from possible clearance of the site, or from insensitive redevelopment. The house and certain site features hold important cultural value and are held dear by thousands of people worldwide. These features must be retained and restored to a high degree of authenticity, not swept away and replaced with a poor replica.

If the site were developed in the future without the protection conferred by protected structure status, there would be no mechanism to ensure that best conservation practice would be followed. There would be no way to ensure that the rebuilt cottage would be a true reconstruction, using traditional building skills and reflecting the historic footprint, layout and vernacular character of the house as seen in The Quiet Man film. Furthermore, there would be a legitimate fear that significant features within the curtilage would not be respected. The concrete bridge, stepping stones, dry stone walls, rose garden etc are essential elements which feature in the film and add to the richness of the site, and which deserve legal protection.

In fact, as things currently stand – without ANY legislative protection – this iconic site could be leveled without consequence or accountability.

Several of the re-elected and newly-elected Councillors have already responded to me in private messages expressing their support – and desire – to add the cottage and site to the RPS. Nine Connemara Councillors have each received their own individual copies of the Architectural Heritage Appraisal.

We are now waiting for 'Record of Protected Structures' to be tabled as a formal agenda item for a future Council meeting.

Adding the cottage and the site to the RPS would not be a final solution – just an important, and tangible, first step FORWARD. In fact, it would represent the ONLY substantive step forward for this iconic cottage/location in more than 60 years.

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