This Is Embarrassing: Our Irish farmhouse restoration journey

[@artistikworld4058]

🎉🎉found this video today. I think i know that area, Dawn. Iron mountain country. To pronounce the mountains there, try this phonic method. ....sleeve on ear in.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Oh I love it thank you! I like knowing how words are pronounced. 😊 Yes I bloody love that mountain. Still have yet to visit it properly but it fascinates me! Looming over us like it does…I love it! 🥰

[@artistikworld4058]

You're welcome. The area lies on a seam of gold. There are many portals too. In time you will get to explore it all. Other projects to film. For years I drove through the area on my way to Enniskillen for writing workshops. I felt the place to be enchanting!

[@tracybush8115]

You're right Dawn, it's a beautiful place to live and your property is fabulous. The joy you feel living there came through in your voice as you strolled down the lane - I'm so happy for you guys. You've only been there 4 months and you've done soooo much to the place - very impressive. Congrats to both of you and looking forward to the next video.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

They are such lovely comments Tracy, thank you very much. It is an amazing place and the house is a bonus lol We love it here. The work done is a little slower than we expected but we are getting there. Trying to slow Dawn down for the winter is quite hard as she always needs to be doing something. Sadly, it means I am normally doing something too lol. Thank you for continuing to watch and comment :-)

[@kategreen-adarkcarnival6747]

Fantastic progress guys! I think the wee blue and white handle might've belonged to a copper coal scuttle? Much love, Kxx

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you! Ooh I like the idea of that, copper would look lovely with that blue and white! It’s a very pretty handle. 😘

[@Annie-qp5iu]

I have an old coal scuttle with exactly the same handle on it.

[@kategreen-adarkcarnival6747]

@@Annie-qp5iu There's proof then!

[@chisamosa]

Thanks for the walk down the lane. It is beautiful. I’ve visited Ireland a few times and absolutely love it and the people!

[@thecornerhouseproject]

You’re very welcome, it is sooo beautiful isn’t it? Everywhere you look is beauty! I’m still in awe everytime I pass a window in the house and look out and see what we see from all directions. It’s good for the soul, it really is! ❤️

[@jeanhawken4482]

When you look at this time line and acknowledge how much you had already completed you are both amazing.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It was seven days a week for 6 months and we then stopped for Christmas. I think two weeks of on and off doing bits and then back to it. After finishing the land and "The Digging" we slowed down a little, but on a whole it is still 7 days a week in one way or another. Thank you as always Jean :-)

[@10928rob]

Tidying up, don't you just love it, it seems none productive, but it gives you renewed vigour once you have done it. well done, and the hard work is soon forgotten. once you see the results of your labour, love you two xx❤

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Ooh yes I love a good tidy up! You’re absolutely right Pa….the end result that is achieved is definitely worth the effort in doing it! You just need to keep in mind what it will look like in the end and that keeps you going! 😘 xxx

[@inabates8919]

New subscriber here. I think you need to give yourselves a break, in the short time you’ve been in house you achieved a bloody lot. 😉👏👏👏❤

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Hi Ina, thank you for watching and for subscribing. We do have breaks, not many but we do have the odd day now and then. We enjoy what we are doing so don't see it as work, just part of the life we have chosen. Thank you again and we will "see you" soon :-)

[@jmck6320]

You both have done a great deal in a short time!

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you very much. The more videos we do, the more we actually see what we have done. Living here at the same time hides what we have actually done in a way as we never get to come away from it and then come back the next morning with a big wow. Thank you for watching and commenting :-)

[@nualamoran]

Handle is froma flower pot. Thanks for the wondèrful memories. Its lovely to watch the old family homebeì😮ng brought back to life. I think I sàw Ben neàr Booths iñ Caŕrick last week??? Keep up the good work

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you so much for telling us exactly what it was. Sadly I didn't find the pot itself lol. We will try and make it as lovely as it used to be when you lived here, maybe with a few changes, but nothing major. I may have been down there, I venture out now and then, normally when I need something for the house :-) Thank you for watching, it means so much to us that you and other members of the family are watching. Maybe see you before Christmas?

[@johnoneill5812]

Thank you for the tour. I've followed along since almost the beginning, you have made a lot of progress. Glad that you have salvaged materials from the demolition, will come in handy later on. How much land do you have? Looks like you have plenty of room for a few goats and chickens as well as vegetable gardens. Certainly is a wonderful place to live .... my father's ancestors departed from various parts of Ireland for Canada in the years 1835 to 1851 because of famine. Was a very difficult time. By the way, thank you also for being so diligent in replying to comments.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Firstly John, replying is never a problem as you and a lot of others take the time to send us comments and it would be rude not to. Also, we get a lot of advice and ideas from all the comments, so the more we reply, hopefully the more comments we get giving those ideas. It would have been terrible to get rid of the timber and panels which hopefully can be used at a later date for various jobs... like joists for a recently fallen roof! Dawn loves the land and is always in awe of the mountain. Every time we go out she always says "look at that, how beautiful". We have just under an acre of land so yes, enough for some pigmy goats, chickens, cats (as we have never been without cats since being kids) I fancy a sheep or two, so speaking to the local sheep farmer and the list could go on and on lol. Dawn knows much more about the history of Ireland as she is the reader for us both and then I ask her questions, but I can't imagine what it was like. I understand Canada was send food to Ireland to help in their time of need. As always John, thank you so much for your comments :-)

[@dorygeancunningham8027]

Where you live looks similar to the Piedmont region of Maryland where I live. The part I live in is very hilly with the Blue ridge part of the Appalachian mountains way off in the distance. We just love taking drives to see the scenery. You two have done an amazing job! My grandmother was a nurse and I definitely remember the blue bottle of Milk of Magnesia…that chaulky sensation still lingers, although, the bottle is pretty. Smart idea using the rocks dug up as a boarder to a garden there in the corner.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

We will never get bored of just the smallest of journeys. We pass a lake and canal in just a 5 minute drive, and if we drive to town, 3 lakes and 4 or 5 locks on the canal, it is a gorgeous place to live and we would highly recommend it to anyone. Hahaha, everyone is remembering the lovely taste of milk of magnesia lol. Dawn has all the best ideas Dory, I will come up with one.... one day..... maybe. Thank you for always commenting, it means a lot :-)

[@colettelavery7452]

You both keep really busy. Some clearing done around the outbuildings. Every job done makes your outdoors incredible. I remember well the glass bottles of Milk of Magnesium I hated it also .I am surprised you have not found old writing ink bottles. Lovely to hear you Dawn talking about when you bought the house and you both should be so proud of what you have achieved in such little time with no skills only learning as you go.God bless you both and take care xx

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you very much Colette. Yes, every little bit done is another thing closer to it all being finished.... in about 10 years time lol. From the comments I don't the Milk of Magnesia was very popular hahaha. The six month wait after going sale agreed seemed to drag on for soooo long. From October to April. We were hoping to have moved across by the March to make a good start, but sadly it didn't happen that quickly. Never mind, we are here now and are nearly ready for the winter, Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment so often :-)

[@lynnfoley4444]

Love your trip down the lane 💚

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Aww glad you liked it. I need to walk it more often because it’s a good for resetting the brain!

[@jaymurtagh]

Eww milk of magneasia , putrid stuff lol. I am sure it is mostly in plastic bottles now. The glass lucozade bottles , they use to have orange/ yellow wrappers on them in the 70's too. The timber collection is coming along nicely. Very handy.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

hahahaha, no one seems to like it. Yes, light blue plastic bottles and still nasty. The lucozade did indeed, and there was always a bottle next to someone in hospital lol. Yes it is getting there and what is more, the dodgy standing stack is still standing a month later, Dawn was wrong..... for once lol. Thank you for always watching and commenting :-)

[@LewisC1944]

Thank you for taking me on a walk along the lane, it felt as if I was there with you. What you two call a "not so hard day" would kill a lot of people. It's amazing how much bigger the grounds look now they are clearer. It must be very satisfying to look back on how much you have achieved in a relatively short time. XX

[@thecornerhouseproject]

You are most welcome Carol, maybe one day you can pop over and have a walk down it yourself?! Well, not so hard compared to swinging 16ft joists around a room and hammering the living *** out of stone pockets hard lol. We tend to have a look at the first few videos as a reminder on what it was like back in May 2023. It is then we see, remember and realise how much work we have done and the difference we have made. (We don't count the roof on the cow shed collapsing in that) Currently sat in a lovely warm kitchen, which is no longer damp and has a lovely new ceiling and joists above us. Also knowing the living is the same, just not warm yet. It will be. Thanks Carol, as always, for watching and commenting and coming for a walk xx

[@christinerowlands539]

What a great video,i really enjoyed that Dawnie and Ben.It looks lovely with or without the sun. Love to you both. Aunt Chrissy. 😘😘P.S we was given thatmilk magnesia, it was vile and I remember spitting it out soon as my mum's back was turned. Yuk! 😅

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It really is lovely here! I don’t think I will ever tire of seeing it! Oh yes I remember mum giving us milk of magnesia when we’d been poorly…nasty stuff 😂 xxx

[@horza4530]

I recognise all of those old bottles. The dark brown one is Bailey's Irish Cream, if I'm not mistaken. Love the old glass Coke bottles. Sliabh an Iarainn is a very famous mountain in Irish mythology. It's where the Tuatha Dé Danann landed in their flying ships when they first came to Ireland, according to the Book of Invasions. Great work with the clear up BTW. A tidy site is a safe site. :)

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It is funny isn't it, things that feel special from being a child. We have all seen the bottles, all remember them and they bring back fond memories... except for the milk of magnesia hahahaha. Yes, it is Baileys. We didn't realise it was a famous mountain, we know it is where there used to be a lot of iron mines, hence the name, so thank you for more information on it. I am sure Dawn will be having a read about it some more. Thanks for always watching and commenting :-)

[@SweetOne.]

Wonderful recap on all you have accomplished. Love those smiling faces! Can you imagine what it might be like this time next year? Stay motivated my fellow procrastinators

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you :-) Hopefully this time next year we might have mains power hahaha. Sorry for the late reply, we were procrastinating lmao. Thank you for always watching and commenting. (Do you have a name SweetOne?)

[@SweetOne.]

@@thecornerhouseproject I've been called many names lol My Mum calls me Janie.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Well from this point forward.... You will be known to us as Janie 😁

[@ruthsprik6251]

Binchwatching your flogs. So entertaining. I have to remind me that is was a few months ago. I was saying to my telephone. Stop wafflng Dawn. Help the poor guy in the back struggling with the plastic sheets. And then you did😂

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Haha I’ve gotten less waffley as the time has gone on lol.

[@SerendipitySharon]

always satisfying, and makes you breathe easier, when one tidies up and gets organized. Getting the boards lying horizontally prevents bending as well. Well done!

[@thecornerhouseproject]

We do like a good clear and tidy, there are many videos of this. Outside, inside, you are right, you can breath a sigh of relief when it is done. Hopefully the gallon of timber treatment I sprayed all over it as I went will help it too and hope the condition is OK when we unwrap it when needed. Thank you for watching and commenting :-)

[@Marice51]

You have gone a long way in one year, I’ll call it success.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

A little bit at a time, but yes, we are happy to call every step a success so far Thanks for watching and commenting on our videos 😁

[@derrickmurphy9859]

Beautiful place to live near the iron mts

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It really is! We see it so many times as we drive about. Dawn said you can just see it from the bottom of the land, which really pleases her. Thank you Derrick for watching and commenting :-)

[@WestCorkWander]

That alley way is fab! Love the stonework. Were thinking of making our own concrete pavers with stones inbetween for drainage. Could suit your muddy areas ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@thecornerhouseproject]

I like that idea! Sounds like it would look great. We really need to scrape it back ultimately.. it's gotten where we can't park the car for the mud! 👎 luckily when the esb did electric pole, they chucked sooo much concrete in the hole that we have enough room to keep the front wheels on there to be able to park and get off again! 😄

[@Annie-qp5iu]

Hi, that handle us from an old coal scuttle I think. I have the same one on my coal scuttle

[@thecornerhouseproject]

A few people have said coal scuttle, it really is very pretty. Once of the ladies who lived here as a child commented a couple of days ago that it was from a planter but I wonder if there were multiple things made with same handle design.

[@neutonrenda2303]

Don't apologize for the building site, it's just that. The old corrugated metal should be better to lay down over the mud, you would also have a wider walkway that you could sweep or rinse off when it gets bad.👍❤

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Well at the moment, the timber boards aren't doing a bad job and the rain cleans them off for us lol. We can always tell in the morning if it has rained as the boards are clean. We are still talking about how to best fix the muddy area. The chippings from the wood chipper was a good idea my Sister had but we think decided they will just sink into the mud. We fear the only solution will be a mini digger and a quick bit of tuition and we will be digger drivers in no time. As always, thank you, again and again and again for watching and commenting :-) :-)

[@brucejordan3339]

We have a water jug style copper pot with that exact handle it's about 12" high an 8" round. Have you thought of putting gravel over that back area it would make for better walking and great drainage for latter on when you top dress.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thanks for commenting. We would need that much gravel or stone to raise above the mud. The mud is so thick and doesn't let any water out. We will scrape it out and then maybe look at gravel depending on what we find. It could be the giant rock we are built on.

[@neutonrenda2303]

We still have it but now in plastic bottle.👍

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Yes, we are the same, just a boring light blue plastic bottle.... still tastes horrible though ahahaha. Thank you for commenting......

[@LorraineKurpis-gc1rz]

Wondering if this was the Moran home. It looks like the house my grandmother Mary Moran was born in . The photos look exactly the same.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Hi Lorraine There are a lot of houses that look like this around the area but if you have some photos and are happy too, please can you send a couple in an email and we can have a look and help see if it is your Grandmother's old house. It would be great if it was wouldn't it! [e-mail]

[@kimberleychavez216]

You need to use hay on the ground to help with the sogginess.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Sadly hay or straw would just sink into the mud and then the rain, which no doubt would fall minutes after we put it down, will just add to the mud. We will try and get a video of what it is like when it is raining / has rained. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment, every comment means a lot to us :-)

[@neutonrenda2303]

Your family must be watching your content, sure some of them have been shocked by what you guys have achieved already.👍❤

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Yes, I think all of our family members, Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, Mums, Dad and Sisters are all watching. I think more shocked that we moved country and bought the derelict house, but also knowing the pair of us can do anything together. Thank you for commenting.... again.....

[@adammurray741]

make sure you keep that fire lit and roaring the next few days. this frost will be a shock too you in these old houses.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It has been a little chilly today Adam. Hopefully it will pass us by and before we know it, it will be spring lol. Thanks for watching and commenting :-)

[@pitsnipe5559]

When I watch y’all all I can see is what a beautiful place you’ll have when done. Milk of magnesia, mom use to give us a spoonful every night. As I recall, I rather liked it.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thank you very much, we are getting there. Well so far you are the only one who has mentioned liking it lol. Thanks again for watching and always commenting :-)

[@Andrewcc.]

👍

[@thecornerhouseproject]

And a big old thumbs up right back at ya!

[@kaye-q1k]

Try making some wooden walks with old rafters and some boards will raise walk and wider than the boards you are walking on

[@thecornerhouseproject]

We have a width of two in places but raising it is a brilliant idea. Sometimes we squelch as we work, and in trainers, it isn't nice. Thank you for watching and commenting (twice) :-)

[@rebeccazody1278]

Such a big difference!

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It is isn’t it?! 🥰

[@ronaldlucas5360]

Interesting

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It needed a good tidy up Ronald.

[@kaye-q1k]

*Goats are browsers so they will clean up the willow small shrubs trees for you. Pigs will root out and eat lots of vegetation.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Goats, pigs, sheep, cats (again), chickens, ducks (again) are all on the list :-) Dawn has a lovely hardback book called The new complete book of self-sufficiency by John Seymore. It has some beautiful illustrations and so much useful info, including pigs and goats. But nothing can beat someone commenting and confirming the information :-)

[@AnneNiM-ni3fx]

A donkey would clear a lot of the field at the back, easy to manage if you make the boundaries stock proof, also natural manure to rejuvenate the soil

[@helenangelful]

Hello Dawn, Is the handle you showed from a flower pot by any chance? You have done such a huge amount of work in such a short space of time. You can be very proud of yourselves. The videos are very enjoyable to watch!

[@thecornerhouseproject]

It could well be a flower pot handle, we hadn't thought of that. I am quite proud of it though as I am not normally the one to find "treasures", Dawn is as she does the work lol. Thank you for saying about our videos, it makes sharing them worthwhile. Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment :-)

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Update....... you are right, one of the family who lived here has commented and it is indeed from a flower pot. Sadly there is no prize 😞, just a big thank you for commenting with the right answer lol

[@helenangelful]

Sorry that you found out that it is just a flowerpot handle. Didnt mean to dash your hopes of it being a valuable treasure 😢

[@adammurray741]

you have too learn how to use small fires for clearing all the undergrowth around the outbuildings and for getting rid of what your paying to put in skips. fire is your friend when clearing up around buildings like this.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Thanks for the tip but sadly fires are not allowed in Ireland (is the best reply I can give) ;-)

[@adammurray741]

@@thecornerhouseproject l,m not far from you. we burn evrything in the countryside here. never had wheelie in our life most off us.

[@zoerochelle]

The porcelain “handle” looks like it is from a copper teapot.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Hi, thank you for watching and commenting. Two comments down tells us, from the horses mouth, what it was from. I had no idea at all, so a copper tea pot was a good guess. Thank you again :-)

[@jgg59]

What county are you guys in? I’ve been watching the videos but I must’ve spaced out.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

We are in County Leitrim. We have only mentioned it a couple of time, but not often. Thanks for watching whilst spaced lol and commenting :-)

[@cynthiabruns7178]

I have been watching your videos for a while now. Just wondering how many acres came with the house? Would it be possible to have bonfires to help reduce your piles of vines?

[@thecornerhouseproject]

We have just under an acre here, pretty manageable for us I think. We were looking at getting a little more when we were buying but I think, now in hindsight, an acre will be just fine, especially with all the work the house needs lol. You’re not allowed to have bonfires in Ireland, which is a shame but we can take bundles, bit by bit and either chip them or stick them in the range and fireplace. We would love to get the land under control a bit more before spring comes round, so will be tackling that soon ☺️

[@joanobrien7754]

Could you not get gravel or small stones put down...so you are not walking in mud.

[@thecornerhouseproject]

Firstly, thank you for watching and commenting, it means a lot. We thought about using the woodchips we have recently made but think that until the ground is scraped back and some mud removed, whatever we put down will just sink. We found a road workers sign buried the other day, no idea how long that has been there. Thanks again.