The Heritage Council in the south-east has successfully restored a Co Wexford straw-roofed house dating from 1705, but the council is keeping the location of the house, which is in private ownership, a closely guarded secret.
According to the council the location of the house will become known in February when it is officially opened by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.
But while the house is described as a splendidly conserved example of vernacular architecture and a "time capsule", it is never intended to open the building as a visitors' centre.
The reason the house is such a well-preserved example of how people lived almost 300 years ago is that it was until recently occupied by an elderly man who had inherited the original house and farm implements with the property. Apparently neither he nor previous owners ever modernised the homestead or dumped the ageing implements.
Earlier this year the council appealed for help in locating suitable straw to thatch the roof. "You've no idea how difficult it is to get authentic oaten straw thrashed the traditional way, not by a combine harvester", said a Heritage Council spokeswoman.
For an authentic conservation, the materials used in repairs had to be sourced locally. As the original thatch was in oaten straw, finding supplies proved difficult. When some was identified it was discovered that modern thrashing methods meant it was ineffective.
Few newly thatched buildings in Ireland still use oaten straw for thatching, wheat being the predominant variety. The straw in question must be traditionally harvested using a reaper-binder. Combined straw is unsuitable for thatch as it is less durable. Traditionally, thatching straw is harvested slightly green and allowed to ripen after cutting.
A Heritage Council conference on thatching highlighted the lack of suitable native straw for thatching. Modern farming methods have meant that the traditional long straw is no longer available, and has to be specially grown. Meanwhile, Irish reed has deteriorated because of pollution in watercourses.
The options facing the Heritage Council included importing straw from eastern Europe, particularly Poland where straw is still harvested in the traditional way. The conservation workers ultimately felt this would not be authentic. Finally a supply was located locally from the Tector farm near New Ross, where brothers, John and James, were able to harvest in the traditional manner.
According to the council, the house is now owned by a neighbour, but plans are under way to transfer ownership to a trust.
And the house's location? We are not telling, but a glance at the Minister's diary should reveal that she is expected to be in the Johnstown Castle area early in February . . .