Four historic homes in west Waterford have been transformed into long-awaited social housing.

The Alms Houses in Tallow were built in 1830 but fell out of use a decade ago.

The Church of Ireland has now turned over the terraced single-storey properties to Waterford Council.

One of the delighted new residents is Carmel Karney, who had been on the council’s housing waiting list for a number of years.

She said she had been very fortunate to have been allocated the home, which is so spacious and bright and comfortable.

Waterford Council’s director of housing Ivan Grimes says this is a fine example of tackling vacant properties and bringing them back into
use. This is maintaining the history of Tallow. The houses were built nearly two hundred years ago and to see them occupied, and refurbished to such an excellent
standard is great. He said it is a beautiful development.

Dean of Lismore Paul Draper says the houses became vacant when he took up his post in 2009. He said they looked into the trust deeds to see if they could
they use them again for accommodation but there was too much work to be done. He says the Council came along and it was the best way of keeping them
as a beautiful unique building and also used for what they were made for, accommodation.