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THATCHED COTTAGES ARE an iconic symbol of Ireland – while we’re certainly a modern country, there are still some of these old-fashioned homes dotted around the place.
These often have been extensively refurbished, for comfortable, modern living in a charming, quirky home.
Here are four of the best traditional thatched cottages on the market right now, from a Wexford retreat with its own bar to newly built versions in Waterford.
This cottage, located 20 minutes from Wexford town, is striking for several reasons: it has a thatched roof, low walls, and private gardens with lakeside views, for a start. Inside, it’s impressive, with stone fireplaces throughout, and a country-style kitchen that features an AGA.
Outside, there’s a gazebo, and a separate, smaller stone cottage. This is used primarily for fun by the current owners, and it’s home to a bar and a snooker table at present. So if you’ve ever wanted to play bartender, now’s your chance!
St James Wood is a small, unique development of thatched cottages, 15 minutes from Dungarvan town. The four-bedroom cottages are filled with homely touches, from sandstone fireplaces to porches at the front and rear.
The handmade kitchen features a double oven and fridge freezer, and upstairs, two of the bedrooms have en-suite access, as well as a walk in wardrobe adjacent to the master bedroom.
Homes in St James Wood are on the market for €300,000.
The Old Farmhouse is located down a quiet cul-de-sac, outside the village of Cappoquin. It’s stood here for over 300 years, but it was renovated in 2014 to ensure it keeps up with modern comforts. Handmade cupboards feature in the kitchen, and the magnificent thatched roof was recently rebuilt.
Standing on a 0.5 acre site, there’s also an outhouse with this property that could be renovated for storage or entertainment. The Old Farmhouse is also home to a fruit and vegetable patch, for sustainable living in this delightful spot.
The Old Farmhouse is on sale for €249,000.
This 150 year old cottage was purchased by an American couple in 2009, who completely overhauled the property, inside and out, adding insulation, new furniture, and modern touches including CCTV wiring, a full-size fridge in the kitchen, and a new washer/dryer system.
The property keeps its old-world charm, though, and features flagstone flooring in parts, as well as exposed timber beams and stone walls throughout.
This property is being sold inclusive of contents, and is on sale for €175,000.
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It’s illegal to not allow a 15 minute paid break after 4 1/2 hours work. Disappointing to see tesco dragging their feet about breaking the law
It’s simple folks, if you disagree with this – and you damn well should, don’t shop there. When these stores begin to see even a tiny drop in their profits they’ll suddenly find their conscience.
Or they will close it and all the jobs are gone.
@Ger As long as it’s profitable they won’t, but would you seriously want this threat held over our heads forever? We have to allow jobs like this, with low pay and illegal conditions, we have to take the crumbs from the table and suffer in silence, be grateful for it or else we’ll have no jobs at all. Seriously???
Meanwhile these stores won’t reveal their profits in Ireland, they won’t let us know just how much they’re making here but they have to do so in the UK by law. Why do you think that is?
If we enforced our legislation properly (which we more or less are above) there won’t be a need to boycott anything
No 2 FF/FG while it’s illegal not to allow a break, it’s my understanding that it doesn’t have to be a PAID break in all cases. It depends on the contract.
Ger
They won’t close.
They will pay up and they all should pay up. In the meantime we should boycott Tesco or at least spend less there.
Every little helps!
@Ger. People will not stop shopping – they’ll just go elsewhere, and the staff will follow them to where there is better working conditions.
Tesco have been making huge profits here for many many years – way above the rate in UK arm of company. They can afford to pay the staff.
Tesco should be fined as well as forced to give back pay.
Thats correct Jimmyjoe. But in this case they were treating one group of employees different. They were discriminated against in that all the other people who do the exact same job in the company get paid breaks, yet they were singled out.
Had it been in your job and two people sit side-by-side doing exactly the same work, and one gets paid for the 15min break and the other doesnt, that would be discriminatory too.
The Conrad hotel does not pay staff for breaks ,also pays normal rates for working Christmas Day ,it’s been getting away with this for years .
Report them
Conrad hotel is no different so to the rest of the Hospitality Sector. Most of them anyway.
No hotel or restaurant pays breaks, I haven’t had a paid break in 15 years, get over it!!
I even worked in one place, who took the hour pay out of your wages, and still no break was given!! Ha!!
On another note, are all employees entitled to Sunday premium pay in all employment sectors, does anyone know?
There are some exemptions. Chefs for instance. Chefs also never get a decent break and eat standing up in the kitchen when things quieten down for 2 mins. Its an industry wide thing in chefing.
No
I think companies can decide to pay you extra on Sundays, but they’re not obliged to.
They should pay up in total, if they don’t it’ll set a precedent and the likes of tescos will say no pay for breaks and when brought to court pay a percentage of the pay due and be financially better of than if they pay the full amount.
They should Tesco and sue the miserable b’stards!
Any improvements over at Dunne’s?? I’ve boycotted them for about 2 years now. Miss my vouchers. Wouldn’t mind a rummage round.
Full time contracts are still “on the table” no indication whether they’ll ever be picked up and actually given to staff
My boycott amounted to nothing so Ryan….
Tescos ‘Every little helps ‘ except if you work for them !!
Should everybody get paid breaks.my two breaks are unpaid on a 9 hour shift ? If so I’ll be due 10 years compensation
Yeah you’re supposed to get fifteen minutes paid break if you’ve worked 4.5 hours.
Just sent an email to siptu to try clarify it
Yes, you are entitled to a break of 15 minutes after a 4 ½ hour work period but there is no entitlement to be paid during these breaks and they are not considered part of your working time.
As it says in the article the paid breaks are part of Tesco’s own company guidelines, hence the legal action.
I doubt that the Bailieboro store is even making a profit…unlike the Tesco store in Cavan town where the workers appear to take their break outside on the pavement.
have your say