There are hundreds of crumbling and derelict houses dotted across the landscape of the Gaeltachts from Kerry to Donegal.
These homes once belonged to people who have long since emigrated and may have been passed on to family members. This makes tackling the issue of affordable housing a “complicated and sensitive issue” due to strong emotional links to these empty properties, according to the new country’s first vacant homes co-ordinator for the Gaeltachts.
The problem is exacerbated in some cases by demand for holiday homes and rentals.
A new project, funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta in partnership with Mayo County Council, is spearheaded by Achill man Colm MacEachmharcaigh.
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