Mysterious villa in Ireland that 'no one will discuss' uncovered in new photos

A new photography book on abandoned buildings in Ireland has uncovered a mysterious country villa with a birthing pool and fireplace resembling parts of the female anatomy.

Award-winning photographer Rebecca Brownlie is back with her second book in the Abandoned Ireland series, where readers discover the hidden buildings cloaked by ivy and veiled in dust. From car graveyards to a shameful asylum and a strange villa, Rebecca explores Ireland’s most fascinating forgotten sites.

In a mysterious rural location that the photographer does not reveal, a massive abandoned villa is surrounded by trees and murky green water. The final building photographed in her newest book, Rebecca says the villa is the most bizarre location she has ever visited.

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She says: “No one will discuss the villa, not even the locals, who keep quiet about its history. Rumour has it that it was built by an artist without proper planning permission, leading to construction being halted and the building left incomplete.”

Photographs show the unusual site’s outside and inside. Several structures, including a birthing pool and fireplace, resemble parts of the female anatomy.

Keeping with the creepy theme, Rebecca photographed A Shameful Asylum in Longford. It was shut down in 2007 after a report stated it needed to be closed immediately as the conditions were “deplorable”. Photographs show a derelict dentist’s office fixed with century-old medical equipment and broken medicine bottles.

While roaming the abandoned Victorian building, Rebecca uncovered many tragic stories from previous patients. She says one of the most horrific was Julia Caffery Leonard, who was involuntarily admitted to the asylum in 1895.

After she threw a cup of hot tea at her husband as she accused him of cheating on her, he obtained a medical cert from her doctor to send her there. In the institution, she gave birth to her sixth child. Julia lived there for the next 22 years of her life, leaving her six children behind before she died of heart failure in 1919.

For motoring enthusiasts, Abandoned Ireland also captures some fascinating snaps of The Car Graveyard. The author and photographer gives no hint of where it is, saying it’s located in “the heart of Ireland” and an internet search doesn’t yield any promises.

The derelict field covered in vintage cars has several motors that if they were taken care of, would be worth a fortune today. But Rebecca notes: “Sadly, they are now in terrible condition, however, I still found them beautiful.” It’s become a must-see spot for car fanatics, with vintage Jeeps, Land Rovers, ambulances and sports cars all lying idle in the field.

If movies are more your cup of tea, the photo book also captures one of Ireland’s few derelict cinemas. Located in Keady, Co Armagh, The Scala cinema used to be the heart of the town. In its heyday, it boasted 400 seats, now, the derelict building holds dozens of red dusty armchairs broken and sprawled across the cobwebbed floor.

Rusty projectors can still be seen in the space, as reels of white ticket snubs and rolls of film are scattered on the floor.

Abandoned Ireland by Rebecca Brownlie and published by Merrion Press is out in bookshops now for €24.99.

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