Cottage country

Glencolmcille Folk Village opened in 1967 as a community-based project with just three thatched cottages, and all these years later, it’s still rooted in the heart of this Donegal community. Local people have been fully involved all the way and still donate their time today, as well as artefacts, stories and photographs that tell the story of a traditional way of life in Ireland. Take a guided tour and you’ll experience life the way it looked in the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s in Ireland. And the best thing? Glencolmcille is surrounded by some of the most majestic scenery on the island of Ireland… It’s a beauty.

There’s so much to savour about the wonderful Muckross House and Gardens in the Killarney National Park that you’d be well advised to spend a whole day here. As well as gorgeous walking routes, one of the most enjoyable parts is the farm, where you can step inside a traditional cottage replete with turf smoke, flagstone floors and traditional artefacts and furniture. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the rural Ireland of the 1940s and 1950s with no electricity, small living spaces and domestic drudgery.

It’s not easy to get to this pub, which sits at the heart of rural Antrim… but you’ll definitely be glad you did. Dating back to 1654, not only is this one of the oldest pubs on the island, but it’s one of the most beautiful, too. The traditional interior boasts whitewashed cottage walls, wooden tables and chairs and cosy fires, making it the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Irish music session or a quiet pint of porter.

The Ulster American Folk Park, which examines the impact of Ulster people who emigrated to the United States, has not one but three thatched cottages to enjoy. One of the most striking is the Campbell House, a large two-storied structure which dates to 1786 and was owned by the Campbells, minor landlords in the area. The walls here are over half a metre thick and, intriguingly, are filled with little stones collected from the land. At the Weaver’s Cottage, which is in a more traditional thatched cottage style and is a replica of a weaver’s house, you can see how families combined living and working spaces in the 19th century, while over at the Forge, you can explore a blacksmith’s forge from the 1800s.

Join natural scientist Charlie Troy and local Irish speaker and musician Dearbhaill Standun in this amazing cultural, nature and heritage experience in the gorgeous bogland of County Galway. Within the 200-year-old thatched cottage here, you can immerse yourself in the culture and heritage of Ireland with an exploration of old customs, music and folk dance. While the experiences are only available to special interest groups and tour groups, you can still feel the enchantment of Cnoc Suain as an independent traveller with a stay in one of their thatched cottages.

Not all Irish thatched cottages look the same… Take the Swiss Cottage for example. This delightful structure set deep within the County Tipperary countryside overlooking the River Suir has a fairytale quality that charms everyone who visits. Built in the early 1800s, the cottage was designed to be a pleasure house in the style of a cottage orné and was used by the wealthy Butler family for parties, picnics and soirées. It’s a place of pure fantasy – designed to emulate the simple lives of peasants but exquisitely decorated with hand-painted wallpaper and graced with Venetian glass.

It’s hard to think of a more picturesque and special spot than Tigh Nan Phaidi… Not only is it a postcard-perfect thatched cottage, but it’s set at the foot of a Neolithic monument on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. Adored for its excellent cakes and homemade dishes, this spot is as charming inside (with its painted wooden seating, whitewashed walls and wooden beams) as it is outside and it makes the perfect place to refresh after a visit to the cliff-edge wonder of Dún Aonghasa. Make sure to drop into another thatched cottage delight – An Púcán Aran Sweaters on the way here – and pick up some famous Aran Island knitwear.

If you’re a fan of the thatched cottage, then you’re going to love the village of Adare in County Limerick. This place is packed full of them, making it one of Ireland’s most picturesque villages. One of the best spots in town is 1826 Adare, which takes its name from the year the lord of Dunraven built the cottage. Excellent food meets super-charming interiors here, and it’s especially enjoyable on cold winter nights. Expect tasty dishes such as pan-fried black sole, breast of Skeaghanore duck and 12-hour braised featherblade of beef.

Some of the cutest cottages are located in truly stunning surrounds, and so is the case for Cyndi Graham Handweaving in Dunkineely. Sitting prettily on St John’s Point, a 7km-long peninsula in southwest Donegal, this cottage is home to textiles and accessories made in the workshop – and you’ll also get a chance to see Cyndi at work producing these items. If you’re a fan of authentic Irish craft, there’s no better place.

One place you don’t expect to find a thatched cottage is right in the middle of a city. But the island of Ireland likes to surprise. The Cottage Café and Gallery in Derry~Londonderry is a lovely mix of quaint coffee shop, and craft centre so you can relax and enjoy pancakes and pastries or even a spot of lunch, followed by a browse of some of the city’s best arts and crafts. Perfect.