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Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick have begun renovation work on their home in Donegal. The pair inherited the country cottage from Matthew’s parents, who purchased it when he was just eight years old.
The Hollywood couple has used it as a holiday retreat for years, with their most recent visit taking place during the summer. Together with their three children Tabitha, Marion and James; they enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean views, jigsaw puzzles, and brown soda bread with Kerrygold butter.
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The house is located on the outskirts of Kilcar, near Killybegs, and has maintained its traditional look since the 1970s. From the outside, you wouldn’t think a celebrity couple were relaxing within. That’s soon going to change. The former Sex and the City star has obtained planning permission to extend and modernise the cottage (while maintaining as many of its original features as possible).
According to the Irish Times, the planning application states, “This cottage and outbuildings belongs to a family with a residence in this place for more than forty years. The cottage has been kept with its surrounding outbuildings and gardens and meadows.
“They wish to continue this tradition from one generation to the next by conserving the original and upgrading the existing accommodation. The plan is to give a new lease of sustainable life to this homestead.”
The original cottage will be transformed into one large kitchen, while the extension will comprise of four bedrooms, two living areas and a courtyard. Much of the building work has been completed, though contractors are still updating the roof.
Despite her main residence being in New York City, Sarah Jessica Parker says Donegal feels like home. Speaking to the Irish Independent in 2015, the mother-of-three said she would happily relocate her entire family to Donegal permanently.
“Farewell to the most perfect spuds in all the world.”
“It always feels like it’s a place that is perhaps foolishly more private to us, and there’s a simplicity to the time that we spend there, and the people are so lovely,” she said. “We would be delighted to decamp to Ireland. Move the children, put them in school there, have tea every day, a proper fry. It’s just an exquisite, beautiful, relaxing, wonderful place for ourselves and for our children,” the actress added.
Upon the end of her trip to Ireland this summer, the 53-year-old shared an emotional post on Instagram. “Farewell sultry and fickle skies,” she began. “Farewell plumes of smoke from chimneys. Farewell ranges emitting the earthy and welcoming smell of turf. Farewell chips and tweed and open smiles. Farewell “marked bags”, lamb cutlets and Kerrygold. Farewell to the most perfect spuds in all the world. Flowery or waxy. I will miss you most of all.”
Photo: Wiki Commons