Massbrook Schoolhouse, Bofeenaun, Pontoon, Ballina, Mayo,

Features

• Perfectly restored school house  
• Set on approximately 2 acres 
• Wonderful country setting near Pontoon and Lough Conn 
• Large garage to the rear 
• Ballina: 23.3 km (14.5 miles) 
• Castlebar: 19.1 kms (11.9 miles) 
• Knock Airport: 42.8 kms (26.6 miles) 
• Services:  
• Oil fired central heating.  
• Modern bio-cycle septic tank.  
• Water to the house is currently electronically pumped from a well located on the property. 

Description

Nestled in the foothills of Nephin (2,650 ft) close to the shores of Lough Conn this beautiful Victorian Schoolhouse is located in the ever-changing landscape of North Mayo. Indeed, there is something magical about this undiscovered part of Mayo.

This versatile holiday home (sleeps up to 11) is situated just a mile from Gilaroo Bay on the south-western shores of Lough Conn where many keen and hopeful anglers keep their boats.

Massbrook Schoolhouse enjoys a traditionally convenient position in Mayo being a convenient drive to many of the Atlantic beaches in North Mayo and West Sligo.

The total accommodation comprises 126 sq. m (1,356 sq. ft). A stunning feature of the house is the double-height living room 6.12 m X 5.64 m (20'1" X 19' 6"). One can easily imagine the joy of sitting 'feet up' in this wonderful old schoolroom with a blazing turf fire on a stormy winter's night.

Outside there are terrific gardens and grounds extending to 2.1 acres with a variety of mature shrubs and trees. There is a well orientated screened patio area enjoying a real sense of peace and seclusion outside the main living room of the house. Tucked into the corner of the garden is an attractive store and turf shed faced in Lacken stone with a blue bangor slate roof.

Massbrook National School was built in 1891 under the Leases of Schools Act 1881, and cost the princely sum of £430 to build.

At the time, despite the ravages of the famine, Mayo still had a large population of 219,000 and education was regarded as a necessity for the children of the county to have any hope of a future.

Despite Schoolhouses like Massbrook being built and the Irish education system improving, Mayo's population continued to decline to 148,000 in 1946 and decreased further to 115,000 in the Census of 1966. This latter decline came about as a direct consequence of the huge emigration of Ireland's young people during the 1950's that left Mayo with a historically small population of children in the 1960's.

As a consequence of this demand for school places fell off and the Department of Education made the decision to close many schools, including Massbrook, which closed its doors for the last time as a school in July 1968.

Three years later in August 1971, the diocese of Killala sold Massbrook Schoolhouse, when it consisted just two schoolrooms without running water or electricity, and then stood on just a quarter of an acre.

Over the next two years the house was converted with great care and thought into a three bedroom holiday home and was further improved and modernized in 1989. Ins 2002 a new Blue Bangor slate roof replaced the original roof. Moreover, the land around the original Schoolhouse garden was purchased during the 1990's which today gives the house generous gardens and grounds. The property enjoys a 480 ft. road frontage.

Despite its quiet setting the Schoolhouse is located 3.5 miles from Pontoon, 3.5 miles from Lahardane, Newport is just 12 miles, Ballina is 16 miles away while Castlebar is only 13 miles. Westport and Enniscrone are 22 and 25 miles respectively.  Massbrook is one of the easiest drives to the West from Dublin - no cities to go through - 147 miles on relatively good roads - 3.25 to 3.5 hour drive.  The property is only a 40 minute drive from Knock airport.

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