THE THATCHED cottage is an iconic emblem of Ireland. And now thatch-lover Emma Byrne, a London-trained graphic designer and artist, has travelled the length and breadth of the island of Ireland to seek out the variety of thatched properties across the country. Living in a thatched house herself , the Co. Wexford-based creative has complied a selection of beautiful homes as part of a new book. Here are 10 of our favourites...
1. This cottage in Cullenstown, Wexford, has a Mexican hacienda feel to it. The house is in great condition despite the fact it is so close to the salty sea.
Derrymore House Photo: Emma Byrne2. This beautiful house near Bessbrook, Co. Down, known as Derrymore House, is in the care of the National Trust and is open to the public in the summer. It was once the summer residence of Isaac Corry (1753-1813) Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer.
Jeffry's House Photo: Emily Mannion3. Jeffry's house was built by architect Thomas O'Brien and artist Emily Mannion in 2014 in collaboration with local thatcher Ivor Kilpatrick. The house sits in Ards Forest Park, Creeslough, Co. Donegal and combines traditional thatching with a slender geometric form. It was designed to allow nature to reclaim the ground beneath.
Rustic cottage in Galway Photo: Emma Byrne4. This beautiful rustic cottage can be found in Annagh, Co. Galway. It features an unusual attic window and exposed stonework.
A typical thatched cottage in Dunmore East Photo: Emma Byrne5. A charming cottage in Dunmore East village in Co. Waterford. It is one of many thatched houses, which makes Dunmore East a hotspot for tourists seeking a picturesque, seaside retreat.
Foley's Tea Rooms Photo: Emma Byrne6. Foley's Tea Rooms in Castlebellingham, Co. Louth is unsurprisingly a hit with locals and tourists alike. It has a number of interesting features, including red-brick, Tudor-style chimney stacks, a brightly painted door, traditional shopfront, shop signs and flower boxes.
Adare is home to a number of thatched cottages. Photo: Emma Byrne7. A designated heritage town, Adare was built as the village for the Dunraven Estate, in the early nineteenth century, by the Earl of Desmond. Today, many of the villages thatched cottages serve as bustling businesses as the village is a popular tourist spot, but many of them are also private homes.
Hillside home in Glencolmcille Photo: Emma Byrne8. A simple but striking home which can be found nestled into the hills near Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal.
Thatched Mill in Skerries Photo: Emma Byrne9. This thatched mill in Skerries, just outside of Dublin, dates back to around 1525. Although flour is no longer milled here, this mill remains a prominent feature in the seaside town.
Deenagh Lodge Photo: Emma Byrne10. There are few surviving thatched cottages left in Co. Kerry, but Deenagh Lodge at the entrance to Killarney National Park is a beautiful example of nineteenth century thatching.
All of these thatched cottages and more are featured in Irish Thatch by Emma Byrne, published by O'Brien and out now.
