Astrid Madsen
Tracy, originally from England, embarked on a quest with her partner, Pete, to find a remote haven to balance life and work. After an exhaustive two-year search across Scotland, England, Wales, and unexpectedly in Ireland, they stumbled upon a seemingly too-good-to-be-true cottage listed online. Following a series of failed attempts and a period of disillusionment, they revisited this Irish listing, which Tracy explored solo while Pete manned their narrow boat. This decision, based on Pete’s faith in Tracy’s judgment, led to their eventual purchase of the cottage.
Overview
Insulation: PIR 40mm in roof, 50mm in floor
Plot size: 11 acres
House size: 95 sqm (1,020 sqft)
Renovation cost: €30,000
A Dream Realized: The Irish Island Cottage
The cottage, nestled on an Irish island and surrounded by the wild Atlantic Ocean, was an embodiment of tranquility and isolation. Despite having no electricity or running water—a situation somewhat familiar to the couple due to their boat living—it presented an alluring challenge. The south-facing ocean views, panoramic vistas of neighboring islands, and the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse horizon captivated Tracy. The sheer potential of the place outweighed the daunting task of transforming the bare cottage into a home.
The Vision: Creating a Retreat and Business Backdrop
Their plan was two-fold: to renovate the cottage into a comfortable home and to set it as a backdrop for Tracy’s business venture. They envisioned an island retreat, a sanctuary where visitors could immerse themselves in nature and rejuvenation. Despite the bustling summer months, the island’s tight-knit community of eight residents, with Tracy being the only woman, offered a unique social environment.
A Historical Foundation
Dating back to 1912, the cottage’s construction involved cast concrete mixed with local pebbles. An older stone structure, dating to 1860, served as a barn and a historical dwelling for islanders and their animals. Upon moving in during autumn, the couple braced for their first winter without modern amenities, relying on manpower, candles, and bottled gas. The existing old generator and rainwater collection system became crucial elements of their new lifestyle.
Embracing the Challenges of Island Living
Despite the functioning wastewater system and a relatively new bathroom, the couple faced numerous hurdles. The supportive island community became an invaluable resource, offering advice and a sense of historical connection to the cottage. Cleaning up the considerable amount of rubbish in the garden became an early task, with the help of the islanders and local services.
Resourceful Renovation on a Budget
With limited funds and the logistical challenges of island life, Tracy and Pete embraced DIY. They insulated the roof and floor, chose not to dryline the walls for their charm, and creatively used found materials for kitchen units and storage. They even laid the electrical wiring themselves, adding a unique touch with copper piping from the scrap heap.
Navigating Utilities and Infrastructure
The installation of electricity and a water borehole presented significant costs and challenges. Tracy and Pete dug trenches and dealt with the complexities of laying power cables and drilling for water, eventually striking a supply at a depth far greater than anticipated.
The Renovation Process: Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Pete’s background in landscape gardening and their shared determination fueled the renovation. They lived in the cottage during the process, moving from room to room and dealing with the absence of basic amenities. They repurposed materials for aesthetic and practical purposes, maintaining the cottage’s authentic fisherman’s ambiance.
Deliveries and Logistics: The Island Way
Every item, from appliances to building materials, was transported by boat and manually carried to the cottage. This challenging process was made possible with the help of the island community, their boats, and the couple’s enduring spirit.
Towards Self-Sufficiency and Future Projects
The couple has made strides towards self-sufficiency, growing vegetables and keeping hens. Plans for fruit trees, a polytunnel, and the restoration of the old byre dwelling are underway, funded by the profits from their cottage B&B.
Top Tips
Would you do it again?
We’re saving up to do the byre dwelling next so a big yes. I think if we had known what we were letting ourselves in for we probably wouldn’t have done it in the first place, yet the dream was so strong as was the belief that we could make it happen. I am so glad we made it.
What would you do differently?
We used a limewash on the walls in the house and painted over it with regular masonry paint. So shortly after it started to peel and present signs of mould. The pain of inexperience cut deep. We had to scrape it all off again; that was my low point of the build. It was soul destroying to have to go back over something that you had done already. It felt that we were going backwards and that we weren’t achieving anything. As long as you can see progress it’s not too difficult to stay motivated.
We ended up in the paint shop in Skibbereen with despair breathing down our necks until these guys saved us. They had all the right information about painting onto lime and the right paint. We ended up using a chalk based distemper.
What’s your favourite part of the house?
The kitchen. It’s always the heart of a home. The old range is still there but no longer in working order. We are looking to restore or replace it in the not too distant future. I love the open plan feel to the kitchen. The views out to the ocean are breath taking. The kitchen is a big room by our standards as we used to have a galley kitchen in our narrow boat. The boat was a great stepping-stone to coming to live on an island.
What surprised you?
The biggest surprise was how physical it was, but the rewards were far greater than the turmoil. Every day I’m amazed at how liberating an experience this has been, we’ve simplified everything in our lives. It’s much more enjoyable than having a big house. We have the security of having no debt, I think mortgages weigh on people more than they realise. We have found that simplifying our life has made us feel like millionaires. The freedom it gives you is priceless.
Be creative.
Colours bring a home to life. Let yourself be bold, experiment. The project has boasted many firsts and that included me starting to make blinds and curtains. It was an interesting process and if I may say so myself, quite a successful one at that. The curtains in the kitchen are all nature themed. I love them.
Reclaim and repurpose.
The kitchen dining table is made from part of an electrical cable drum that was washed up on the shore. We discovered some lovely old chairs in a charity shop that had claw and ball chair leg. The chairs were heavily lacquered so we stripped them down to the bare wood and they look amazing. In the guest bedroom we have a reclaimed bed with lovely hand carvings; we believe that the old stuff was made to last so we love to go hunting for new treasures in second hand shops
Never be afraid to ask.
The guys at the paint shop really helped us sort out our challenge of painting onto a limewash. That was our only regret, not researching this aspect enough. If you’re using something you’re not accustomed to, ask people who know. Same went for the plumber’s merchant. I did most of the plumbing myself. The guy at the merchants was so patient with me and talked me through the basics so that I could do the work…brave man.
Appreciate the achievements.
Take time to look back over how far you have come, as it’s so easy to become transfixed on what still needs to be done. When we did come up for air we were able to put the ‘big stick’ down of not achieving and give ourselves a pat on the back as to what we had already accomplished.
Suppliers
Paint shop: Fusion Home Interiors, Skibbereen, Co Cork, fusionhome.ie
Bathroom: Buckley’s Tiles & Bathrooms, Skibbereen, Co Cork, buckleystileandbath.ie
Windows: Ted O’ Driscoll Joinery, Skibbereen, Co Cork
Builder’s merchant: Barry Brothers, Skibbereen, Co Cork
Plumber’s merchant: Michael J Walsh Heating & Plumbing Supplies, Skibbereen, Co Cork
Tracy now runs a camping site on the property, you can book here.
