Latest news with #DouglasFir
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Inside the musical Wicklow home where The Fynches grew up — now for sale for €825k
SELLING Wicklow's vastly upgraded Coningbeg Cottage as a rustic yet accessible lifestyle home, auctioneer Anna Thornton enthuses about the peaceful setting and the sweetest of seasonal birdsong. Glass act Might she mean the sound of The Fynches? They're an Irish band with deep family roots, and who are finessing their first album to be released in November in this musical home's adjacent recording studio, and in West Cork where they regularly both gig and record. Fynches front man Ferdia Walsh-Peelo and crew recorded much of their debut album (launching November 2025) at Coningbeg Cottage's studios The talented band — fronted by singer/actor Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who was in Oscar-winning Coda, Sing Street and The Vikings — and his brother multi-instrumentalist and singer Oisín grew up at Coningbeg Cottage with two other siblings, after parents, opera singer and teacher Toni Walsh and just retired RTÉ investigative journalist and documentary maker Mick Peelo, made a lifestyle move here near Ashford and just off the M11 25 years ago. Hen party: Vastly extended, on organically tended grounds with veg beds and chicken run The couple had bought a Land Commission 1930s era cottage, which grew with them as their family also expanded to four young creatives: both generations now have had a gravitational pull to West Cork. Folks Mick and Toni are downsize home- hunting around Clonakilty, swapping the east coast for the south-west, while their offspring have worked, gigged, and lived troubadour musicians lives in and around Clonakilty. The doubled-in-size Coningbeg Cottage is now a comfortable four-bed 2,080 sq ft detached family home, with (convertable) detached music studio/multi-use additional building, on c a country acre with lofty interiors with feature timbers such as Douglas Fir, conservatory, glasshouse and organic veg gardens with large hen run (clucking fowl to rival blackbirds and Fynches?). Harmonic home of the Fynches It's guided at €825,000 by DNG Thornton who started first viewings last week, primarily to Dublin families who also want a lifestyle shift close to the capital, just off the M11 and near Rathnew, Wicklow town, and Ashford. Piano nobile... It's likely buyers will follow the Walsh-Peelo family's fledgling footsteps, 'swapping suburban Dublin for peaceful and pastoral Wicklow. Waking up on our first morning, to the sound of horses' hooves, confirmed we had made the right choice ... we continue to say it was our best decision ever,' says mum Toni 'Soprano' Walsh. While Mick commuted to Donnybrook's RTÉ studios, she gave music and singing lessons at this hub of activity, including opera lessons to internationally acclaimed Ava Dodd, while bands like Hudson-Taylor, Gabrielle Aplin, and I have a Tribe 'have also passed through to drink at the well, or swim at local beaches'. Youngest son Ferdia and Fynches frontman was born here, and apart from the band has an acting career that most recently saw him filming the forthcoming Four Letters of Love with Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham-Carter and Gabriel Byrne — whose career also started in Wicklow's more fictional Glenroe. Sing Street with Ferdia Walsh-Peelo Swallows of the feathered kind enhance and enrich the garden 'a place of recreation and nourishment, it's been a passion with organically grown veg plus our hens' eggs have never disappointed. Now it's a new chapter for us: needs have changed and new pastures (and, new veg patches) beckon,' Toni chimes. Strike a chord? Balancing that delicate 'selling while buying' bridge (house swap, anyone?), the Walsh-Peelo folk are actively scouring property websites as home-hunters in West Cork as their own Coningbeg Cottage is spruced up for sale, so they have fingers on the property market's pulse and beat at both ends: there could even be a ballad in it? VERDICT: A well-feathered nest that reared a brood of Fynches. What's next?
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
'Big Skygazer' sculpture to be unveiled in Mote Park
A 13-metre-long wooden sculpture, which is part of the restoration and rejuvenation of Mote Park in Roscommon, is being unveiled today. The 'Big Skygazer' is a curved wooden bench, which will allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful surrounding woodland. Mote Park, close to Roscommon town, sustained significant during Storm Éowyn in January. It is hoped the artwork, which is part of efforts to transform and rejuvenate the park, will attract more visitors to the area. The artwork was created by Mayo artist Cathal McCarthy, in collaboration with designer Michael McLaughlin, and has been crafted from sustainably sourced Irish Douglas Fir timber.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Forestry worker's ‘natural ability' a factor
Callum Maze, of Roxburgh Logging (right), with John Taal from the Milton Stihl Shop, receives the apprentice of the year award at the Southern Wood Council's forestry awards. Photo: supplied "Just be keen as beans." That's the advice of young South Otago forestry worker Callum Maze, 21, who received the apprentice of the year award at the Southern Wood Council's recent forestry awards, held in conjunction with Competenz. The acknowledgement recognised a commitment to self-development and skill achievement through the apprenticeship. Lawson Roxburgh, of Roxburgh Logging, said Mr Maze began work straight out of school as an enthusiastic young man who took in everything that was going on. "His natural ability and willingness to learn have seen him constantly involving himself with more experienced members of his team, who recognise the potential in him and enjoy passing on their knowledge," Mr Roxburgh said. It was while Mr Maze was a student at South Otago High School that he did work experience one day a week at Roxburgh Logging, giving him a taste of the industry. He started branding logs and much of his time was spent watching how it all worked and to decide if he was keen. Being put into a digger was a highlight. When he asked if there was any possibility of a permanent job, he was told that one was going to be offered to him. Now a machinery operator, Mr Maze said he liked all aspects of the industry; from the "good bunch of lads" involved to being out in the bush as he was a keen hunter and outdoorsman. There were lots of other qualifications he could achieve and he was always learning, he said. Both forestry trainee awards, celebrating harvesting and silviculture, attracted some fierce competition. Those awards recognised commitment to self-development and skill achievement. Josh Harrison, of Mike Hurring Logging, won the forestry trainee title. Phil Williams, who submitted the nomination, said Mr Harrison had taken to forestry training like a "duck to water", and had obtained a significant number of training qualifications during his short time in the industry. Jamie Sycamore, of Southland Forest Services, won the silviculture trainee award. He has spent almost his entire working life in the forestry industry, starting in silviculture after leaving school, where his employer at the time soon saw his potential and quickly promoted him to team leader. He has since progressed to general manager and bought into the business. Xshikarna Harvey, of Mike Hurring Logging, won the women in forestry title this year, against some stiff competition from other operators from across the industry. She played a key role in the commissioning of the Port Blakely distillery in Shag River Forest, for extracting essential oils out of Douglas Fir foliage. "There was no manual for how this task should be done. It required innovation and on-the-spot decision-making to achieve the necessary outcomes. Xshikarna took to this quickly," Barry Wells, of Port Blakely, said. The Southern Wood Council comprises forestry and wood processing companies throughout Otago and Southland that has been running for almost 20 years. Council chairman Grant Dodson, who is chief executive of City Forests, said there were record numbers of nominations for the industry awards and some people of "exceptional" quality put forward for recognition. Award winners were.— Apprentice of the year: Callum Maze (Roxburgh Logging). Forestry trainee of the year (harvesting): Josh Harrison (Mike Hurring Logging)Forestry Trainee of the year (silviculture): Jamie Sycamore (Southland Forest Services). Forestry excellence award: Lyle Swain (Swain Logging). Wood processing excellence award: Bryson Baratcart (Niagara Sawmilling Company). Women in forestry excellence award: Xshikarna Harvey (Mike Hurring Logging). Training contractor/company of the year: Lyle Swain (Swain Logging). Forestry/wood products health and safety excellence award: Matt Stewart (Stewart Logging). Forestry environmental management excellence award: Matt Winmill (Gillion Logging Ltd). Outstanding forest industry contribution award: Alec Cassie (Wenita Forest Products).
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Fancy living in a church? Here's four houses of worship on the market ready for family living
The prediction comes as housing construction efforts are now materialising and will eventually take pressure off the housing market according to the BPFI's latest Housing Market Monitor report. With that in mind, those looking for an unconventional dwelling to call home may be in luck as these four renovated churches on the housing market may become slightly more in reach in the months ahead. St. Catherine's, Church Lane, Newport, Co. Mayo (€950,000): The first property was retired from use as a church around 1990 and was architecturally converted into a residence after. Built of limestone, the property blends the old and new to create a comfortable and atmospheric residence intact with its roots. Some of St Catherine's exceptional features still remain including Egyptian sandstone flagstone tiling throughout the ground floor, an original stained glass window in the kitchen/ dining room which was sensitively restored by local artist Linda Grieve/Mulloy as well as some of the original flagstone flooring. The Old Church, Caherconlish, Co. Limerick (€675,000): The second property "The Old Church", is a former Church of Ireland building which was designed by Dublin architect Edward Henry Carson. It was converted to a private residence in 1997 and later refurbished, extended and redecorated in 2015. This unconventional family home is a limestone building with buttresses, a vestry, a belfry, Gothic doorways, pointed arches, and a multitude of stained glass windows. The windows are both high pointed and multifoil rose-shaped. The extension added a sunroom at ground level and a master bedroom on the first floor. The extension is an architect-designed steel structure which integrates with the original church roof design. The accommodation includes entrance porch, hall, four reception rooms, five bedrooms, utility, four bathrooms. The Old Church, Kilotteran, Waterford City Centre (€775,000): The renovated church makes for unique home in Waterford city. Its origins date back to 612 AD and its current structure was built in 1858. The property lay derelict until its transformation into a private residence in 1997 by the current owners. In 2008, they expanded it with a modern zinc-clad extension, enhancing the living and entertaining space. Many of the original features have been preserved throughout the house such as the mosaic floors, exposed oak A-frames, and some of the original diamond fenestration on the interior. New purlins were crafted from local Douglas Fir and the floors are made of pitch pine salvaged from the old Graves Hardware building, as well as the fireplace beam. The kitchen is also constructed from pitch pine that was repurposed from the salvaged staircase of Graves Ltd. while the upstairs floors are Irish larch, while the kitchen and new extension floors are Indonesian merbau. Farnham Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan (€950,000): Built circa 1875, the property is a detached three-bay two-storey former Methodist manse, with a projecting central entrance bay and two-storey return to rear which is currently in use as a private residence. The owners have consciously retained many of its original features which make it well known and attractive to Cavan's architecture, with cut limestone walls, pitched slate roof and original stained glass feature window to the front facade. The house also retains the original bell tower with the steeple believed to have been removed in the 1960's which also adds to its historical charm. The location leaves the property within close proximity to all of Cavan's landmark buildings and amenities with Cavan's Main Street only a short walk away.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
STS Leeuwin II: Iconic tall ship smashed in container ship catastrophe leaves Fremantle to begin repairs
The iconic tall ship STS Leeuwin II is finally being repaired after being smashed by a container vessel at Fremantle Port during a storm nine months ago. The Maersk Shekou was struggling to berth in port when it slammed into the anchored ship at about 6am on August 30, leaving the training vessel with catastrophic damage and the waterway strewn with debris. But a huge relief came in October when a 'shakedown' cruise confirmed the Leeuwin's diesel engine and steering gear were functional, and that the ship was seaworthy. And on Monday, escorted by a tug vessel, the Leeuwin motored from its B Shed quayside home to the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, where the 344-tonne vessel will be lifted from the water, repaired and refitted. It's going to be an epic task, involving 3000 lineal metres of Douglas Fir ordered from Canada and 'kilometres of wires and rope' from around Australia, Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation chief executive Lawson Dixon said. The goal is to have her back in the water for the start of the summer sailing season. Mr Dixon said discussions with insurers were in the final stages and the total price of the damage was yet to be determined, but already ran into 'many millions'. 'It's been catastrophic,' he said. 'None of this stuff is cheap. 'You can't just run down to Bunnings and pick up three new masts ... we've got to build this stuff from scratch. 'There's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes and we've been figuring out the best way to do things.' The hull was in 'pretty good shape', Mr Dixon said, but the point where the mast was attached would be a critical focal point when she's inspected in the dry dock. Fortunately for the venture, which turns 40 next year, corporate support has been strong and the specialist skills required are plentiful locally. 'We're really lucky ... the last three tall ships built in Australia have all been built here in WA,' Mr Dixon said, describing the Leeuwin as 'part of the fabric of WA'. 'There's a professional group of shipwrights and spar makers and sail makers and riggers, and they're all the sorts of skills that we need in order to restore Leeuwin back to her former glory.' Two crew members aged in their 20s and 60s who were aboard at the time of the collision - which was Mr Dixon's first day on the job - had to jump for their lives. They were sleeping in the hull when they were woken by a loud crack, and suffered injuries as they escaped the ship. Mr Dixon said it must have been a harrowing ordeal and it was fortunate no lives were lost. He is in the process of rebuilding the team after all bar one worker left the company, needing sea time with the Leeuwin out of action. 'We operate with a rotating crew of about eight ... our Master, James Rakich, was the last person standing there for quite a while,' Mr Dixon said. Captain Rakich said the boat would have the same recognisable look and there was no intention 'to change the vessel in any radical way'. 'She's one of the best boats around and there's no reason to change the elements that aren't broken.' In an ironic twist, the milestone comes after a Mexican Navy tall ship, the training vessel Cuauhtémoc, smashed into New York's Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, killing two people and injuring several others. Mr Dixon said that very same vessel was in Fremantle Port weeks after the Leeuwin was struck, and when its crew saw the devastating wreckage, they invited their fellow seafarers on board, offering warmth and sympathy. 'Our hearts go out to them,' he said. Anyone who wants to be part of the repair and re-rigging process can volunteer to community manager Alexandra Sinclair via alex@ . 'The ship requires a mountain of work to get her back out and sailing. We will need all hands on deck,' she said.
