Heritage hot spots History, nature, art, environment

Swiss Cottage

What is it?Swiss Cottage, just outside Cahir, in Co Tipperary, is one of only three ornamental cottages in Ireland. (The others are Glena Cottage, in Co Kerry, and Bantry Lodge, in Co Cork.) Described as one of the finest surviving examples of the 19th-century Anglo-French cottage orné, it was built for Richard Butler, Lord Caher (and later Lord Glengall), a descendent of the Butlers of Ormond. It remained in the Butler family until 1961. It was then bought by the Irish Land Commission and sold back to its caretaker, Eugene Heavey, for a nominal sum. He and then his brother, John, looked after it until John's death, in 1980. After that the cottage fell into disrepair. Restoration began in 1985, and in 1989 it opened to the public. Swiss Cottage is now run by the Office of Public Works.

Why visit?It's a fanciful building inspired by the French philosophy of romantic appreciation of the joys of simple country living. Used by its owners as an occasional residence and base for hunting, fishing and local festivities, it represented an escape from the formality of country- and town-house living.

The location for Swiss Cottage, which has only two reception rooms and two bedrooms, was chosen in a wooded area close to a bend in the River Suir. Timber posts were used for the veranda, and the roof was thatched, to blend with the natural surroundings. Restoration of the cottage involved reinstatement of the complex interlaced branches on the veranda and restoration of original French wallpapers.

Why go now?The early lives of its first owners, Richard Butler and his wife, Emily, make for romantic drama ripe for cinematic development. When his father died, Butler was living in poverty in Cahir. Apparently unaware of his new status, he was sent to France with his siblings by jealous relatives hoping to benefit from the inheritance. The children were rescued by Isabella Jeffereys of Blarney Castle, who had them educated and arranged for her youngest daughter, Emily, then 16 and returned from a convent in France, to be married to Butler, who was then 17. The couple went on to have highly influential roles in the political, economic and cultural life of the area.

How do I get there?Swiss Cottage is in the townland of Kilcommon, two kilometres south of Cahir off the R670 on the road to Ardfinnan. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm from March 31st to October 24th. Admission is by guided tour only, which takes 30-40 minutes. Admission is €3 for adults, €2 for senior citizens or groups, €1 for children and €8 for families. Groups of 10 or more must prebook. There are no bus tours on Sundays or bank holidays; 054-7441144, swisscottage@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie.