A charming stone cottage in West Cork, Ireland
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341654)
Rockingham, Australia
June 4, 2019 1:48am CST
For the next week we’re staying in a lovely stone cottage in West Cork, Ireland. It was a four-hour drive to get here from Trim, in County Meath. Travelling isn’t fast here with many narrow roads to be negotiated. The last few kilometres were up a very narrow, steep road lined with flowering rhododendrons.
We learnt that these plants have been introduced and have turned into a pest as they are very hard to kill and have been choking out native species. However, the purple colouring is very striking. From the more major road at the bottom of the mountain, you can see a purple patch high on the hillside and that is where we’re living at the moment. I’ll try to get a photo of it one day soon. For the moment, here is the lane into the property and the house.
The left-hand side has been added and has a sitting room at the base with a ladder going through a trap-door into a bedroom which has magnificent views over the surrounding valley. The house is very quirky and I’ll have more photos to share another time of the inside.
23 people like this
24 responses
@snowy22315 (181923)
• United States
4 Jun 19
Very nice, I think you will enjoy your stay there.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (181923)
• United States
5 Jun 19
@JudyEv Yes, Ireland is pretty. I want to go to Northern Ireland sometime. The scenery is supposed to be even better.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@snowy22315 This area has a very wild, rugged beauty. It must have been hard living here in years gone by.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
4 Jun 19
those rhodies 're huge! saddened to read that such's taken o'er 'n 'diff'cult to kill. the house 'tis so cute! lovely place from the sounds 'f 't (bonus bein' that magnificent view) 'n worth the trek. looks so peaceful 'n invitin' there.
seems folks've good 'ntentions 't times'n they run 'mok. kinda like kudzu'n tennessee. they thought such 'twas brilliant fer soil erosion'n 'mported such from japan, i believe? 'tis taken o'er 'n smothered trees, engulfed power poles/lines, etc. they've yet to figure a way to get rid 'f 't :( such jest continues to spread.
can't wait fer more pics'n tales 'f yer journeys! 
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Jun 19
@JudyEv 's our ancestors 'came mobile (crossin' seas), such came to be. did'ja know that mice'n rats aint native to the u.s.? 'n then there'd be those that did such 'ntentionally, so's they could've a piece 'f their homeland with no thought to what such'd do to their new native lands.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@crazyhorseladycx And rabbits and foxes are not native to Australia. Rabbits almost wiped out all our agriculture and are still a major pest.
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@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Jun 19
I hope you enjoy your time there visiting! I'm sure you will see many wonderful sights, and visit with many lovely people!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121656)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 19
@JudyEv Just from various descriptions of the country I can imagine how spectacularly beautiful it is!
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@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
@JustBhem On the right downstairs is a kitchen/dining room and upstairs a bedroom and small alcove which is a sort of office. Part of the landing is taken up with the boiler and a small storage cupboard. The new part on the left has a sitting room and a ladder to a bedroom upstairs. Behind the kitchen is the bathroom.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
4 Jun 19
How does it feel to be back on Terra Firma. I hear that they have had snow in Eastern Australia how about that!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
5 Jun 19
@JudyEv I hope tht once summer is over they will get some respite!
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@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun 19
The trapdoor has a counter-weight so once you get it up it stays up.
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Jun 19
Plants that are growing in the wrong place or which choke out good plants are sometimes called 'pests'. It isn't just animals or insects that can be pests. Weeds could also be called pests. Some plants have been brought into Australia and grown in gardens but when they are pruned, perhaps the pruning are thrown in a pile. Some of the plants take root and gradually spread and so become a menace or pest.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
4 Jun 19
Oh wow. Those rhododendrons are massive. Can't believe they're a pest.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87848)
• Bangalore, India
4 Jun 19
That purple patch is really striking . It is so beautiful and catchy. Such a beautiful pest! I hope I am right in saying that this is the plant that you mentioned as pest.
This house looks pretty. Enjoy your stay! Waiting for ore pictures from inside of the house.
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@psanasangma (7281)
• India
4 Jun 19
Wow ! very serene. You will enjoy staying in this cottage, seems to be very homely.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
4 Jun 19
It certainly looks like a lovely place to visit. Hope you have a wonderful time while away @JudyEv
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 19
It's a wild, rugged area that we're in at the moment but still very lovely.
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jun 19
It is very cute, isn't it? I must take some photos of the inside before we leave.
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
5 Jun 19
looks great i hope you have a great stay
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341654)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun 19
Thanks. I love these quaint stone cottages. So different to what we're used to.
@RasmaSandra (80593)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Jun 19
How very lovely. Hope you really enjoy yourselves.
1 person likes this
