Blog

It is the dream of many cottage lovers to be able to live and run a successful and rewarding business from their cottage and recently I had the good fortune to meet with a couple who have done just that. On one of the hardiest days of the year my fabulous Focus ice-skated cross country from Carlow to Moate in Co. Westmeath to visit the cottage of Helen and Brendan Doherty – better known as the Caraiosa Centre.

On an extended holiday in Ireland, Canadian couple, couldn’t understand how so many of our traditional old stone cottages lay derelict and abandoned. They decided to find their own cottage here for renovation and through 5 long summers of hard work and great vision, they extended and renovated a stunning, modern and yet still charming cottage in the rolling hills of Southern Kilkenny. They embraced our traditions, retaining many of the cottages original features such as small, deep window openings and exposed stone walls whilst bringing it up to modern standards with additions such as underfloor heating and a timber framed extension. Read on to find out more about their cottage renovation experience.