The Restoration - Curlew Cottage, Valentia, County Kerry, Ireland

Our 30 years plus Kerry adventure began in June 1988, when Wendy and I, along with our Labrador /Collie cross Jess, drove an ancient Austin Allegro all the way to Valentia Island, Co Kerry, Ireland...as far south-west as it is possible to travel in the British Isles… next parish, Boston USA! We were familiar with the west coast of Britain having explored the highlands and islands of Scotland, and Cornwall, but this was to be our first time on the west coast of Ireland. Staying in a self-catering house in Chapeltown, directly opposite the church and fifty yards from the local pub ‘The Lub’… (we spent more time in the pub than the church, where in no time at all, the locals got to know everything possible about us, in a way only the Irish can). We made some good friends there; friends to this day.
It is impossible not to notice the abandoned and empty houses as you travel the west coast of Ireland, they are everywhere in various stages of decay. We took a great interest in them; they make for really interesting photography. However, back in 1988 we were also looking at them with a different eye... from the intriguing position of possible ownership of an affordable property in this truly beautiful part of the world.
We bought what we came to name Curlew Cottage from Paddy Lynch, known locally as 'Paddy-China'. Now deceased. he lived next door in Rose Cottage.
Our ruin had at one time been a cow shed and a single room dwelling.
Working only holidays and whatever time we could find meant that the renovation slog took seven years. It was very much a family Do-It-Yourself project. My late father-in-law, Ron laid every single block, and along with my late mother-in-law also learnt how to set-dance in the Bridge Bar, Portmagee! During this time, our two daughters were born and we sold our recently re-roofed and renovated house back home, only to buy and do the same all over again to our next house. Building and house renovations were ongoing… our stay in Kerry was very much a ‘bus-man's holiday’. We have boxes of photographs from this period, some of which have been scanned and can be seen here. Some of the images are better than others, and probably best described as record shots. I apologise for the rather grainy, poor condition.

The cottage became habitable in 1995. However, the work is ongoing...

Check out the changing cars, our two girls growing up, and three dogs!

These days my photography means I spend more time each year in the county and Valentia Island is the perfect base. Please check out my website - www.johnwesson.com

Видео The Restoration - Curlew Cottage, Valentia, County Kerry, Ireland канала John Wesson