Hastings Cottage

On Wednesday the 26th of September, 5th and 6th class went on a very educational trip to Hastings Cottage. We walked for about half an hour down the old route way, into Tullyvarraga to reach Hastings Cottage. They only recently discovered the cottage.

The Farmhouse was a typical vernacular building of the late eighteen or early nineteenth centuries. It was a low, one-story , hip-roofed , thatched dwelling with a stone built outhouse attached at the end. Clay, stone and brick were used in the construction of the building. Clay-walled houses are rare. The house originally had two opposing doors but the back door was blocked up at some point during its occupation.

John's son Dan Hastings, the first occupants of the house, was born in 1853. He married Mary Sweeney in 1880. By 1887 they had six children, John, Thomas, Bridget, Micheal, Anne and James. Unfortunately Dan died in 1888 leaving Mary to raise her family alone. Thomas emigrated to Australia where his descendants still live.

One of the most interesting items discovered in the ruins of Hastings Cottage was Holloway's ointment. The ointment discovered contained nothing more than yellow beeswax , Venetian turpentine and butter fat.

On 26th June 1920, the IRA captured General Lucas along with two colleagues, Colonels Tyrrell and Danford. It was reported in both the London and the New York Times. Throughout the following month they moved from safe house to safe house. One of these safe houses was Hastings Cottage. After one month, they released General Lucas because he had built up a good relationship with the IRA.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Hastings Cottage.