Swiss Cottage, Cahir facts for kids
The Swiss Cottage is a really cool old house from the early 1800s. It's found near the town of Cahir in County Tipperary, Ireland. This special cottage is open to visitors and is looked after by the Office of Public Works. It's known as a cottage orné, which means an "ornamental cottage" – basically, a fancy cottage built to look pretty and charming!
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A Look Back in Time
The Swiss Cottage was built around 1810. It's a great example of a cottage orné, which was a popular style back then. The design is thought to be by John Nash, a famous English architect from the Regency period. He also designed other buildings in Cahir.
Who Owned It?
The cottage was originally part of the large estate owned by Lord and Lady Cahir. They used this unique "fantasy" cottage to entertain their guests. The owner at that time was Richard Butler, who was the 10th Baron Cahir. He married Emily Jeffereys from Blarney Castle in 1793.
Bringing It Back to Life
After many years, the cottage started to fall into disrepair. But in 1985, work began to restore it! The restoration project was a team effort involving the Irish Georgian Society, the Port Royal Foundation, and Sybil Connolly. The Swiss Cottage officially opened to the public in 1989. Today, you can visit it as a historic house museum.
What It Looks Like
The Swiss Cottage has a special T-shaped design. The front of the cottage has three sections, called bays. It also has lovely wooden porches, known as verandas, on several sides. One of its most striking features is its beautiful, ornate thatched roof, made from straw or reeds.
Inside the Cottage
Inside, the cottage is just as charming. You'll find a special floor made of small pieces of wood fitted together, called a parquet floor. There's also a cool wooden spiral staircase. Some of the rooms still have their original wallpapers. These wallpapers are believed to be from a company called Joseph Dufour, and they were some of the very first wallpapers made for sale in Paris!
Other Fancy Cottages
The Swiss Cottage isn't the only one of its kind! Similar beautiful cottages exist in other parts of Ireland. You can find them at Burrenwood in County Down, Derrymore in County Armagh, and Glengarriff in County Cork.
Why Were They Built?
These picturesque cottages were very popular with wealthy people in the early 1800s. They were often used as fun places to "play at being peasants" and to entertain friends. It was a way for them to enjoy a simpler, more rustic style of life, even if just for a short visit!
Gallery
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Swiss Cottage
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Pathway
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Left side
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See also
In Spanish: Swiss Cottage (Tipperary) para niños
