Cloodrumman Beg Cottage is a vernacular Irish cottage located in a beautiful county in Ireland called Leitrim. It is derelict – the last occupant left about 30 years ago. It consists of a three-roomed mud and stone building surrounded by a number of stone outbuildings. It was originally thatched but is now covered over by galvanised sheeting. It has no windows and no doors and in some places barely even has walls!
I bought the cottage when I was living in the UK – I had been there for 4 years and was starting to miss home – my sister Aine and her husband Joe (a stonemason) had purchased a derelict cottage a few years previous and had renovated it. They were both passionate about these old properties and it was catching - I decided to do something similar thinking that with Joe's knowledge and experience it would be fine. Aine kept an eye out for suitable properties for me and one weekend when I was home, we visited a few cottages that Aine had noted – all were in the Leitrim/Longford/Roscommon area (where our father was from). When I saw the cottage I immediately knew it was the one – the drive up to it, the location, the buildings themselves, the walk down to the lake at the rear…
I bought the cottage after much wrangling with the bank – I dealt with someone very helpful in my local AIB branch – but other than that I don't think I would have the cottage now – banks are very reluctant to give mortgages out on low value properties. I moved back to Ireland about 2 years ago now and currently living in Dublin (renting) where I have spent most of that time reading and researching these types of properties (ie dithering).
Over the 2 years, I have had the property up for sale and taken it off the market. I have had varying designs from architects and friends and I have taken courses in stone repairs and read information from a wide range of sources. When my brother-in-law was killed in a car accident in December I decided I was keeping the cottage and renovate it myself. This blog is a record of my journey with this cottage. I’ve called it Stone Mad for obvious reasons but it was also the name that Joe was going to call his own company and I think he'd very happy that I'm carrying on the tradition.
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Hi,
I was really pleased to have found your site. I have plans to do something similar with a derelict thatched cottage in Co Tipperary. It’s nice to know there are people doing it already – it seems that so many are left derelict and it’s such a waste.
I am still living and working full-time in England (born and brought up here, with no Irish connections – other than with the landscape), but I really want to move to Ireland and set-up a housing organisation to restore derelict properties and make them available as affordable housing. However, taking the plunge and leaving my job and family and friends is making me a little reticent, but I am sure that I will soon find the strength to make the first step. I have been offered a friend’s house rent-free to live in, so that will make things easier to start with.
So far, I have done loads of research and I think that I can’t do much more towards the project without being in Ireland. Whatever happens, I’ll certainly follow your progress and wish you well in your endeavour.
Best regards,
Comment by Charlotte June 25, 2006 @ 12:49 amCharlotte
Hi,
I’ve been looking for inspiration, found your website seems people just want to knock these houses down. I have an old cottage in Cavan outside of Dowra. It was my Grandparent’s and my mother’s home. I live in England with my wife and five kids I would like to move back and start my real life, but things keep getting in the way. I’m still dithering and have been for eight years.
When the thatch was removed a lot of stone was replaced with block (to get the tin roof straight) I’ve had architect’s draw plans for a new house, others have told me it should be condemned. Fortunately it’s still standing, I need to find a sympathetic builder who can sort out the stone work. One day I’ll get started
Best of luck,
Comment by philip January 7, 2007 @ 11:33 amPhil