The Rooms

The Sitting Room

This beautifully spacious room was once the hub of the home and was the original kitchen/living space. The large traditional fireplace provided the main source of heat and the place where all the meals were cooked. Right up until the 1980's it had pots and kettles hanging on hooks over an open turf fire. You could look up the chimney and see the sky above! On a wet day you could hear the rain drops hiss, as they fell into the embers of the fire. This was a place where everyone gathered to share stories, tell tales of old and make family memories.

The beam above the fireplace and the Oak Beams in the ceiling are original and are thought to date back as far at the very early 1`7th Century. As the name suggests the timber was dug up from a local bog and may be as old as 3000 - 7000 years! A very rare sight!

This room is also the oldest part of the house and together with the Oak Room next door, was originally one large room that was built as a Byre Dwelling. So sit back and enjoy the surroundings and the unique history that this room holds. Remember to mind your head in the doorways! They were designed when folk were a lot lot smaller.

🌐 Wi-Fi

The Kitchen/Diner

This room was once upon a time two separate rooms. The dining area was the Parlor when I was a little girl and prior to that it appears to have been a barn or cart house. When renovating the cottage we found a large door opening had been filled in where the french doors are now. The walls are built with mud similar to the original cottage rooms but were added to the cottage at a later stage. It is thought that this barn was incorporated into the cottage in the 1800's to make a Parlor for the family to entertain important guests. The Parlor was the 'good room' which was not in daily use and reserved for special occasions. Today it forms the dining end of the kitchen with french doors leading off to the garden, with views of the woods beyond.

The kitchen area with all mod cons was once a bedroom. In traditional Irish Cottages all rooms led into each other with no corridors. So in the original layout anyone sleeping in this bedroom would have people passing through to get to the bedroom beyond!

We think it works much better as a kitchen where you can prepare gourmet meals to impress your family and friends or just relax with a take away and a glass or two of wine!

🌐 Wi-Fi

Please note, wi-fi is not available in some corners of this room due to the thick chimney breast.

The Dairy Bedroom

As the name suggests, this was originally The Dairy at Hawthorn Cottage and was accessed by the door that now gives views of the old well in the garden. This is where the Pantry was located, a cold store for eggs, milk, cream, butter and cheese. The butter was churned in here and it was also a space for storing garden tools and horse harnesses.

Difficult to figure when this room was added to the cottage but it was obivously at a later date than the central rooms because the walls are constructed with stone. It could quite possibly have been added in the 1700's but could also be as late as the early 1800's. It is now a very comfortable cosy bedroom with lots of character, including an antique wardrobe found in the cottage when renovating!

🛏️ Double Bed

🌐 Wi-Fi

The Oak Bedroom

Lime plastered walls with soft rounded corners and original Bog Oak Beams. The little alcove in the wall behind the bed was originally a cupboard which held religious statues and holy water. This room is in the oldest part of the cottage, which is thought to have been built as a Byre Dwelling, probably as far back as the 17th Century! So once upon a time you would have been sharing this space with the chickens and the cows.....and maybe a pig or two!

We also affectionately refer to this room as 'Sis's Room', in memory of the previous owner.

🛏️ Double Bed

🌐 Wi-Fi

The Bathroom

This cute bathroom is the main bathroom on the ground floor level. It is at the end of the hallway past the Oak and Dairy Bedrooms. It was also originally part of the Dairy just like the bedroom next door. 

It now has a bath tub with over bath shower, so you have a choice between having a relaxing soak in the bathtub or a quick refreshing shower!

The Attic Bedroom

What cottage isn't complete without a romantic room in the attic? So in 2020 we decided to go upstairs. A set of stairs were installed and The Attic Bedroom and en-suite bathroom came into being. This is a lovely family room up in the eves of the thatch, so headroom is a little restricted, if you are lucky enough to be tall! With cute little attic windows giving views to the old cow shed from one window and the lawned garden from the other.

This room also has an antique chest of drawers which was found in the cottage when renovating. The drawers are wonderfully wonky but great for storing your clothes.

The en-suite bathroom is almost a secret room, camouflaged behind a pretty wallpapered wall. So you can enjoy a relaxing soak in the tub in very peaceful surroundings.

🛏️ Double Bed    🛏️ Single Bed   - ensuite bathroom

🌐 Wi-Fi

The Study

This lovely room is just off the kitchen and has stairs leading up to the Attic Bedroom.  Take a seat and browse the books, maps and leaflets for visitor attractions both near and far.

This room started out it's life as the stable with room for two horses.  It may have been added to the cottage in the 1800's as the construction is somewhat different to the rest of the main house. Like the Dairy room it's walls are built with stone. Whereas the rest of the cottage walls are built with mud! In the 1950's it was converted into a bedroom and incorporated into the cottage as additional guest accommodation for family visiting from America. 

So the cottage has a long history of going to extra lengths in making guests feel both welcome and comfortable. It was also affectionately known as Tims' room because once the guests had headed back to America, a member of the family named Tim claimed it as his!