Nostalgic images of Irish cottage windows adorn postcards, calendars, placemats, mugs and numerous other mementos created to help tourists remember their days spent in the Emerald Isle.
Some claim this image is overused and just plain touristy, but for me it is synonymous with my homeland.
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Cottage Images From Ireland
Simple, small wooden windows often sport old black kettles. Red geraniums are striking, when highlighted by whitewashed walls.
Nostalgia For Irish Cottages
This summer I often paused to photograph cottage windows. My children just could not understand my interest in windows.
"Hurry up, Mom," was a frequent instruction from my kids, who grew impatient with my constant dilly dallying, and car halting maneuvers to snapshot old windows that caught my fancy. In years to come I hope they'll understand their mother's fascination with Irish cottages and windows.
Whenever I see a lace curtained window, I smile.
Simple, yet beautiful, these windows are fitting symbols of our rural heritage.
The History of the Window Tax
Irish cottages usually boasted less than six small windows, and often only two or three.
The size and number of windows in a house were limited to avoid the dreaded 'window tax'.
From 1799 until 1851 more than six windows in a house resulted in a window tax being levied on the homeowner. As a result cottages were built with as few windows as possible.
Cottage interiors were often smokey and dark. The window tax was often called the 'typhus tax' because of respiratory problems caused by poor ventilation.
The general rule was that the front door of the cottage should face south.
Northerly winds are colder than southerly breezes. Elemental considerations dictated the door free rear wall should face north.
Small Windows - An Economical Solution
Cottage windows were small compared to the vast glass panes of today. The main reason for this, was to retain heat in the winter and to keep cool in the summer. Cottages truly were an Irishman's cave.
Glass was also expensive. Economy dictated use of the smallest possible amount of glass.
Cottage walls were much thicker than today's home structures. This design feature helped support the roof and beams.
Thick walls meant deep window recesses, just perfect for flower displays.
Deep window ledges were also perfect for displaying statues, the Infant of Prague, being a favored window fixture.
And of course, flowers adorned cottage windows in abundance, and still do, to this very day.
Every Irish cottage is slightly different, each seeming to boast a unique personality. And behind these windows family stories of love and loss evolved.... if only windows could talk.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
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Brian Deeney
Hello Mairead
Tonight I just posted to G+ a Donegal cottage window photo
http://dch.ie/cottagewindow
Brian
Irish American Mom
Brian - Great minds think alike. I love the hens in your window. Just lovely.
All the best,
Mairead
Penny Wolf
I love the windows and all that surround them. It's like a treasure hunt. What wonderful thing is going on beyond that little bit of glass? Maybe the soul of the house is hidden in it's eyes, what we call windows.
I think a calandar of windows would be great.
Irish American Mom
Hi Penny - Cottage windows definitely seem to be a home's eyes, and like you, I often feel like I am peering into the soul of a cottage when I examine its windows. Even though these cottage windows are simple and very similar, it's amazing how each cottage window seems to have a unique personality. I agree wholeheartedly that a cottage window calendar would be wonderful.
All the best,
Mairéad
Kay G.
OH MY GOODNESS! What beautiful photos and how fascinating to learn these facts about cottage windows in Ireland.
You can go and tour the Palace of Versailles if you like. Me, I think I would rather see these cottages in Ireland (NOT that I could afford them either! LOL)
Oh, and do you call these curtains "net" curtains rather than "lace" curtains? Just wondering, my English mother-in-law calls them "nets".
Hope you are doing well these days, Mairead. I have been LOVING my Irish calendar that I won in your giveaway...I don't want the year to end!
Irish American Mom
Dear Kay - Glad to hear you are enjoying those farmers in their wellies on your calendar. You are correct about 'net curtains'. It is the term most often used in Ireland. I'm showing signs of my Americanization by writing 'lace curtains'. Someday I must write a post about how years ago middle class Irish Americans came to be known as the 'lace curtain Irish'.
I hope you make it to Ireland someday to see some Irish cottages. I'm sure you have seen some beautiful cottages on your travels to England.
All the best,
Mairéad
Sara
I love your series of Irish window photos. I am drawn in the same way toward windows when I'm in Ireland. These beautiful shots remind me of Bunratty Folk Park, which everyone says is touristy, but deep down, from my farming soul, I so love it. Few things speak to me of the depth of Ireland like the farms.
Irish American Mom
Sara - I took a few of these shots in Bunratty Folk Park. I really enjoyed our trip there this summer. I know it's touristy, but I think it's very tastefully done, and is a wonderful tribute to our rural past. There's something magical about cottage windows, old shop fronts, and decorative doors, that intrigues me. I even got carried away taking photos of farm gates this summer - must be my farming soul directing me too. I love how these iron gates often reveal a spectacular view otherwise concealed by the hedgerows. I just have to find time to sort through all my photos and create some new posts.
All the best,
Mairéad
brian@irelandfavorites
Hi Mairead,
I love your opening line, seems in todays world we are being asked not to appreciate the history of our past, lovely photo's as always, and a beautiful story as well.
Cheers,
Brian.
Irish American Mom
Thanks, Brian. Cottages are definitely part of Ireland's historical past. I love to see old cottages with newly renovated thatched roofs. They stand as proof that many Irish people still appreciate our heritage.
All the best,
Mairéad
Mariana
Beautiful pictures! I love cottages. Are they usually seen only in small towns or are they common?
The window tax sounds crazy.
Irish American Mom
Mariana - Cottages are seen all over Ireland, even in the suburbs of Dublin city. I grew up in Raheny which is about 5 miles from Dublin city center. It was once a small village outside the city and many of the original cottages survive. I must write a post and show some of the pictures of this old village, which is now part of the city.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Mariana
Thank you for your reply. I'd love to see pictures of Raheny.
Lisa
Nice pictures! I love the one with the bike near the window. Window tax..Yikes! lol.
Irish American Mom
Lisa - I love the bicycle by the window too. We probably shouldn't talk too much about window taxes. With the Irish recession the government might be tempted to bring it back. Apparently it was a tax throughout the British Isles - and we think our property taxes are bad.
Take care,
Mairéad
T.M. Johnson
My sister-in-law is an artist and has visited Tuscany. She was fascinated with doorways of Tuscan homes and has painted several from the photos she took. I, myself, prefer your cottage window photos over her paintings. Tuscany, it seems, is the artist's Mecca, but your photos of Irish window dressing speak more to me than anything "under the Tuscan sun." For some strange reason the cottage windows reminded me of that classic John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara movie: "The Quiet Man." The window tax?? Please explain. Your latest post was wonderful. Thanks. TMJ
Irish American Mom
T.M. - The cottage where "The Quiet Man" was filmed unfortunately lies in ruins. It was purchased by an American in 1986, and it is now nothing more than roofless walls. A replica of the cottage however has been created in Cong, Co. Mayo.
http://www.museumsofmayo.com/quietman.htm
Here is a link for Wikipedia about the window tax.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_tax
In Ireland some window spaces were covered with goat's skin rather than glass to avoid paying additional property taxes. Cottages were poorly lit to begin with, so you can just imagine how goat-skin windows would have made the interiors even darker.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Maureen N.
Hi Mairead,
Love the pictures of the cottages and the net-curtained windows where you can see what is going on outside but not inside! A grand old peep at the neighbors going by! I think they have a very special talent for flowers, window boxes and hanging baskets. We had a black iron kettle like the one with the geraniums in it. It was under the stairs. How quaint to use it as a container for flowers.
Glad you took the time to capture the beauty in simple things.
Go raibh mile maith agat!
Irish American Mom
Maureen - "The beauty in simple things" is so true. I think we get so caught up in our lives we often forget to appreciate our surroundings. Black iron kettles do make perfect flower containers, and this summer the flower boxes of Ireland were glorious. I must share some photos of these flower baskets soon.
All the best,
Mairéad
Cheryl Barker
Tell your kids I'm glad you took all those photos of cottage windows! I liked them! 🙂 I think my favorite is the one that has the red geraniums with the purple flowers underneath. So pretty!
Irish American Mom
Cheryl - I'm so glad you liked these cottage window photos. In years to come I hope my kids will understand my crazy obsession with the past and simple, yet beautiful things.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Chris B
When I was in Ireland, I loved the cottages, but especially the ones in the West. Dingle and the surrounding area was one of my favorites, but Kinsale seemed a close second. The windows with their flowers were so lovely!
Irish American Mom
Chris - Donegal is another county with beautiful cottages. I too love Kinsale and Dingle. It's years since I visited both places, but hopefully I will get back there someday soon.
All the best,
Mairéad
Peggy Miller Hopes
How very pretty and homey looking; makes you want to stop and visit.
Peggy
Irish American Mom
Peggy - Irish cottage windows truly are a welcoming symbol of our country.
All the best,
Mairéad
Sophie Moss
Love this post so much! There is something so inviting and charming about Irish windows. I think it's the simplicity and the texture and the contrast in colors of the flowers and the whitewash. There's just something so sweet about them. When I visited Ireland for the first time over ten years ago I took lots of pictures of the windows and brought one home to my mom, who is an artist now. It was the first painting she did for me and it is still my favorite piece of art from her. Thank you for sharing this!! It made me smile. 🙂 🙂
Irish American Mom
Thanks so much Sophie. Irish cottage windows are truly lovely. I'm so happy you have a piece of your mom's artwork capturing their magic.
All the best,
Mairéad