Our Story
Hawthorn Thatched Cottage fully restored
Stages of the Cottage renovation
Step back in time with this beautiful sympathetically restored Traditional Thatch Irish Cottage, parts of which could date back to 16th/17th Century, making the central rooms possibly as much as 400 years old! Great care has been taken to keep the character of the cottage during the renovation works carried out in the early 2000's.
The thick mud and stone walls are wonderfully uneven with little nooks and crannys for books and lanterns. Two lower than average doors (leading off the oldest room in the house) still hang on their original hinges. The sash windows with their deep window cills, flagstone floors, the old hobs by the fire with rare wattle and daub hood, together with the original Bog Oak beams, complete the picture.
Hawthorn Cottage was restored between 2005 and 2008. It had been not been lived in from the early 1990's, so by 2005 it was in need of some serious restoration! For most of the 20th Century the cottage was a 3 bedroomed thatched farmhouse, lived in by generations of the same family, as is quite traditional in rural Ireland. Because of lack of skilled thatchers to repair and maintain thatched roofs the roof was covered with iron sheeting in the 1980's. By the mid 1990's it was no longer habitable and the rear wall had rotated outwards and was causing the roof beams to drop. Renovation work started on the cottage in 2005, when a new extension was added and all services were installed. After a break in the renovations in 2006, work on the old cottage started in 2007 and was completed in 2008. The cottage is now back to it's former glory (actually it's even better than before) with a rebuilt back wall, new roof, running water, indoor bathrooms, heating and to top it all off, a beautiful new thatched roof! We were delighted to be chosen to be featured in YourHome interiors magazine just a few short years ago. So we must have got the renovation just right!
This beautiful thatched cottage is set in private grounds, at the end of a private country lane about 3 miles outside the small market town of Mountrath in Co. Laois.
The accommodation offers, large characterful living room with original Bog Oak beams and fireplace with original beam above, kitchen/diner with all mod cons ie. dish washer. electric ovens/gas hobs, microwave & fridge/freezer. 2 Double Bedrooms downstairs (one with original oak beams) and shared bathroom. Upstairs there is a Family bedroom complete with en-suite bathroom. Under floor heating throughout the ground floor. The cottage also has Wifi in most areas but due to the thick walls we cannot guarantee it in every room.
Lovely rural location, nearest market town Mountrath with mini supermarkets, butcher, shops, take aways, postoffice and petrol is 3 miles away. The Heritage town of Abbeyleix with historic pubs, Saturday market and restaurants is 5 miles away. County town of Portlaoise with bars, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, banks is 7 miles away. Nearest motorway Junction 18 is 7 miles. Nearest railway station is in Portlaoise.
Although the cottage location is rural and private it is not isolated. It's in the heart of a traditional farming community with the family farm just a few minutes away. Just 10-15 minute drive from the lovely Slieve Bloom mountains (one of Europe's oldest mountain ranges) offering fabulous walks along rivers, ridges, waterfalls and even a lost village! Other popular outdoor activities in the area include: walking, horse riding, fishing & golf. Or just take a picnic and relax by a mountain stream. Just over one hours drive from Dublin airport and Dublin Ferry Port.
The cottage has been built on a southfacing slope which means there are steps both inside and out which may present a challange for people with limited mobility.
The cottage featured in YourHome interiors magazine!
