This cottage was known locally as an iconic, "postcard-worthy" Irish home and was probably built between 1800 and 1900.
Update 2026: Although the cottage in the 2008 photo was still in "livable condition," the thatched roof was already in need of maintenance at that time. Thatched roofs are organic and must be replaced every 5 to 20 years. If this maintenance stops, the thatch begins to rot quickly and eventually disappears completely, exposing the rest of the structure to the elements. Many of these historic cottages are abandoned because they do not meet modern living requirements or because the costs of renovation are too high, after which they are often used for livestock or simply fall into ruins. Here, the thatched roof has since disappeared and no further painting has taken place.