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Granny Kate's Cottage - Ardara

A wonderful traditional Irish Thatched Cottage located in an idyllic setting near the entrance to the spectacular Glengesh Pass in South West Donegal. The cottage is just 3km outside the quaint heritage town of Ardara. With its authentic restoration and picture postcard setting, the cottage should enable the visitor to turn the clock back,  slow down, and leave him or her in the right frame of mind to savour, once again, the simple pleasures in life.

The cottage was built in the late 18th century. It has been restored to its former glory, retaining almost every detail of its original character. The current owner is Kate's grandson. As a young woman, Kate Gallagher reared 7 children in this cottage while her husband worked abroad in America.

Traditional Design

The cottage has a traditional design - on entering through the half door you come into the living area with its original hearth complete with crook and pots, flag stone floor, oak beam ceiling, dresser with earthenware delph, oil lamps, valve radio, butter churn and a wealth of other original features. There are two bedrooms on either side of the living area which can accommodate up to 5 people.

All materials used in the construction of the cottage are from the locality. The couples (beams), stones and sods used are in as good condition today as they were over 200 years ago. The couples were made from bog oak and these were taken from the bogs in around the Glengesh Valley. The stones used in this home were taken from the nearby quarry. The flag stones used in the floor were quarried from the sea cliffs at Maghera and Loughros Point.

Being on the exposed North West , the cottage was built gabled with a rounded roof, unlike cottages in the South of Ireland which tend to have a pointed roof. The thatch on this roof is flax  (from East Donegal) and has a light coating of corn straw which has a more golden colour.

The furniture in the cottage is certainly original if not old. All the chairs, including the rocking chair are authentic handmade blackthorn pieces by the renowned Gabriel Casey (Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare) - all made without any nails. The dining table was also handcrafted locally. In terms of construction there is only two concessions to modernity - a bathroom and a small galley style kitchen.

The cottage also has beautiful landscaped grounds. There is small stone enclosed garden to the front, a larger elevated garden to the rear and a paved patio area to the side - all enjoying views towards the Glengesh Pass. There is even spring water on tap to the back of the cottage!

Ardara - Heritage Town

Less than a 5 minute drive from Granny Kate's is the town of Ardara. This is a bustling town situated in the south west corner of County Donegal. The environs of the town is an area rich in history, culture, bounded by stunning landscapes and has an abundance of activities for the holidaymaker. Ardara is a traditional centre for weaving and knitwear production. Its historical importance has been recognised in the granting of Heritage status to the town.  The visitor will find a number of excellent restaurants in the locality as well as friendly pubs – several of which feature traditional music sessions.

Facilities & Living Space

Facilities

• A truly authentic Irish Thatched cottage
• a bedroom at each end of the house to sleep 5
• each room occupies the full width of the house and each room leads into the other without a central hallway
• thick walls solidly built of locally quarried stone
• open hearth at floor level
• roof with a rounded pitch, covered with thatch
• kitchen/parlour/dining room
• traditional hearth with hanging pots
• original roof beams made from bog oak
• flag stone floor - flag stones obtained locally at Loughros Point
• antique dresser with delph earthenware
• milk churn, valve radio and many other authentic fittings
• hand crafted chairs, rocking chair and table made from native wood
• 2 bedrooms to sleep up to 5
• wood floors and ceilings and traditional oil lampshades
• bathroom with cast iron bath and overhead electric shower
• galley style kitchen
• electric cooker and hob, microwave
• small Belfast style sink, fridge
• spring water on tap at rear of cottage
• selection of board games and books of local interest
• washing machine in outside shed
• outside clothes line, iron and ironing board
• beautiful gardens to front and back of cottage
• paved area with garden furniture
• 3km to shops, pubs etc in Ardara
• situated along Sli Colmcille - a National Waymarked Way stretching from Glencolmcille to Ardara
• quiet and peaceful location
• ideal touring base
• ample parking
• please note that there is no tv, dvd or video
• sorry, no pets

Living Space

  Traditional Sitting Room with Open Hearth

The kitchen and the hearth are the very core of the Irish Thatched Cottage and the turf burning continuously day and night throughout the year was always the symbol of family continuity and of hospitality towards the stranger.

In Granny Kates cottage the original open hearth is still in use with the traditional crook and cooking pots supplied - along with turf saved from the local bog. The kitchen also has the original flag floor and bog oak roof beams (with wattling).

Given that the cottage is over 200 years old it is not surprising that the original furniture has not survived. The replacement furniture is certainly original if not old. All the chairs, including the rocking chair are authentic handmade blackthorn pieces by the renowned Gabriel Casey (Lisdoonvarna) - all made without any nails. The dining table was also handcrafted locally

  Bedrooms

In the typical Irish Thatched cottage the bedrooms tended to be simply furnished with the quilt or bedspreads often showpieces. In Granny Kates there are two bedrooms, one at either gable of the house - separated by the kitchen. Both have wooden floors and ceilings, are simply furnished with the main light having an old-style oil lamp as a lampshade.

  Kitchen

In addition to electricity and central heating there are two concessions to modernity in the cottage - the bathroom and the small galley kitchen - a sign on the door pronounces the latter as the smallest kitchen in the world.

Tariff

Booking Details

Booking deposit (non-refundable) of euro100 per week - with balance to be paid six weeks prior to the letting period.

• check in 4pm, check out 11am
• rental Sat – Sat except by special arrangement

What's Included

• bed linen
• turf

What's Not Included

• electricity (metered)
• central heating (metered)
• towels

Availability Key

Availability for Granny Kate's Cottage