New Yorkers restore historic Leitrim schoolhouse, uncovering hidden history

In 2015, at an age when many are settling into retirement, a couple from New York City made a bold decision to overhaul their lives entirely. Selling everything they owned, they moved to rural northwestern Leitrim, Ireland, to renovate a derelict stone schoolhouse they had purchased online—sight unseen.

"I was 60, and my husband was 64. Our kids were out of college and living their own lives, so we thought, 'Why not?'” the woman shared. What started as a personal adventure soon became a journey into history, resilience, and reinvention.

When they arrived, the couple was greeted by a construction site rather than a home. The schoolhouse’s slate roof had been leaking for years, leaving the interior a damp and crumbling mess. Original woodwork was beyond salvageable. Undeterred, they stripped everything down to the stone walls and rebuilt from the ground up, working with local contractors who embraced the challenge with skill and enthusiasm.

One of their most memorable collaborators was their 80-year-old stonemason, who uncovered a two-story cut stone fireplace hidden inside a wall slated for removal. Local materials became the cornerstone of their renovation—stairs, skirting boards, and kitchen countertops were crafted from two trees felled nearby.

“Our contractor joked that we could heat the house with a candle,” said the couple, crediting their modern insulation for the home’s comfort despite Ireland’s damp climate.

Halfway through the renovation, they learned from a casual remark that their new home was no ordinary schoolhouse. It had once educated one of the signatories of the Irish Proclamation and a key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising.

“We had no idea,” they admitted, having chosen the property for its charm and potential, not its storied past. By sheer coincidence, their renovation coincided with the centenary of the Easter Rising, a pivotal moment in Irish history.

This revelation brought unexpected attention. The Irish Times covered their story, and tour buses began arriving to see the historic site—transforming the lives of these two former city dwellers living in a remote Irish field.

Now settled into their thoughtfully restored home, the couple reflects on their decision with joy. “You’re never too old to change your life,” they said.

Their story is a testament to the power of embracing change and pursuing adventure, even later in life. What began as a leap of faith led to an extraordinary journey of discovery and connection—not just with their new community, but with Ireland’s rich history as well.