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This case study of the conservation works being carried out on a thatched cottage in Kilmore Quay in Wexford demonstrates the process involved in making an old cottage work for the future. Marty and Vonnie Maher bought the cottage several years ago. Th …

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Denis and Cora McLoughlin for Clonliffe Road to hear the story of how they came to purchase their city cottage and completely renovate it to suit their needs while maintaining its old world charm.

Irish Cottages are of a completely different time and period; and as such I feel that any extension we make to them should be indicative of today’s time; that is of the 21st century. In doing this – rather than slavishly copying the old – makes the building more honest, more legible and ‘easier to read’.

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.

Whitewashed walls, neat golden thatch, glossy red doors and dancing fireplaces are all images brought to mind when contemplating cottages and modern media such as magazines and books help to perpetuate this fantasy. What you don’t see is all the work that goes into bringing a derelict cottage back to life and maintaining it. Although cottage enthusiasts love their homes and wouldn’t change a thing, most do agree that renovating a cottage is once in a lifetime experience, best left behind them. The process requires endless reserves of patience, adaptability and creativity, not to mention a substantial budget. Before you consider buying a cottage, take the following points into consideration: