Six cottages across counties Dublin, Kilkenny, Offaly and Galway, that offer country charm, surprisingly large living spaces and even a DIY option near Quiet Man country, some commutable to the capital.
Something is charming about the cottage, a house style that inhabits our cities, their suburbs, our towns, villages and the wilds of our countryside.
From the chocolate box pretty to supersized structures, here are six finds with budgets starting from €80,000.
Commuter cutiee in Lucan
Address: 4 Cooldrinagh Cottages, Cooldrinagh Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin, W23H5Y2
Price: €775,000
Agent: DNG
This four-bedroom home may look small on the outside, but it has been extended and renovated to stretch 148 square metres back across its 0.37 acres.
The property has an A-rated BER thanks to a new air-to-water heating system, 13 solar panels and upgraded insulation.
It also boasts modern clerestory windows.
The open-plan kitchen blends seamlessly into the dining area and the living space at the rear, with another sitting room set up at the front of the house and all four bedrooms and a bathroom in between.
The garden room is insulated, partially wired and plumbed, making it suitable for a variety of uses.
The rear garden stretches to approximately 85 metres and enjoys privacy, with trees, colourful planting and no overlooking neighbours.
Supersized structure in Kilkenny
Address: The Cottage, Forristalstown, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, Y34 YH77
Price: €575,000
Agent: Ennis Gough Property
This supersized four-bedroom detached home is set on a quiet rural road while remaining within easy reach of major transport links.
Built in 2014 and extended in 2021, the property covers 223 square metres.
At its heart is a beautiful kitchen and dining area with a walk-in pantry. It has a modern aesthetic and leads to the back garden.
This is complemented by a sitting room with a vaulted ceiling and a solid-fuel stove.
The main bedroom suite includes a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, while the remaining bedrooms are all generously sized doubles.
Outside, the driveway is bordered by lawns, while the rear has a sunny decked area, a garden shed and a polytunnel.
Country-style in Rush
Address: 3 Hayestown, Rush, Co. Dublin, K56RC59
Price: €425,000
Agent: Sherry Fitzgerald Cumisky
This three-bedroom bungalow in Rush offers country-style living while remaining within easy walking distance of the town's shops and services.
The vast rear garden is a key feature, extending to approximately 290 square metres and enjoying a sunny south-facing aspect.
To the front, mature planting and a pond create a welcoming setting, while a utility and storage area is accessed via the enclosed side entrance.
The 68-square-metre property features a bright open-plan kitchen and living area, three bedrooms and a family bathroom, providing comfortable accommodation suited to first-time buyers, downsizers or anyone seeking a quieter pace of life close to the coast.
The property is also just 2.8km from the Rush and Lusk train station, providing convenient commuter links.
City pad in fizzy Phibsborough
Address: 12 Innisfallen Parade, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, D07 PK59
Price: €425,000
Agent: DNG
This two-bedroom artisan cottage will be highly sought after due to its convenient location close to Dublin city centre.
A few years ago, Phibsborough was ranked among Time Out’s world’s coolest neighbourhoods and has only grown in popularity since.
With a BER rating of D2, the terraced property is likely to appeal to first-time buyers seeking a home within walking distance of the city's key amenities.
The heart of the house is an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, with high ceilings and large windows.
The house covers 52 square metres and includes a fireplace, a fitted kitchen and direct access to a private courtyard.
The cottage is within easy reach of the Mater Hospital, Temple Street Children's Hospital and the Luas, as well as a wide selection of shops, cafés and restaurants.
Rural longhouse in Offaly
Address: Beggarstown, Glaster, Banagher, Co. Offaly, R42CH21
Price: €295,000
Agent: Leahy Midland Auctioneers
This picturesque, four-bedroom, natural stone-faced cottage offers panoramic views of the Offaly landscape.
The home has traditional charm, though it allows prospective buyers to modernise the old-fashioned interior.
At its heart is a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area featuring a solid-fuel stove with back boiler, set within a handcrafted chimney breast.
The living room is complete with timber flooring and a solid-fuel stove, offering a good amount of volume, alongside four bedrooms.
The main bedroom has an ensuite, while the family bathroom includes a jacuzzi-style bath and overhead shower.
Traditional thatched DIY opportunity in Galway
Address: Thatch, Ballagh, Menlough, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, H53Y0Y1
Price: €80,000
Agent: Pat Callanan
Known locally as “The Thatch”, this 45-square-metre traditional cottage needs total renovation, appealing to DIYers or dreamers while benefiting from a government scheme.
Set on approximately 0.5 acres, the property retains much of its original character and old-world charm.
It evokes the cottage in the Irish classic film, The Quiet Man, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. It was shot around Cong, Co Mayo, further north than this location.
The village of Menlough is just 3.5km away and includes a local pub and shop.
The house has four rooms, including a living room with a solid-fuel stove and two bedrooms, while PVC windows and a rear extension with a galvanised sheet roof provide a foundation for further improvement.
Several outbuildings and sheds are also located on the grounds, offering additional potential for storage or redevelopment, subject to the necessary permissions.
Traditional thatched properties may qualify for conservation and maintenance grants through heritage and local authority schemes.
