3 old cottages that are brimming with potential for under €100,000

I will freely admit that I’m an absolute sucker for a beautiful old cottage. Wonderfully imperfect stone walls, wooden doors, a cosy stove inside, a little garden out the front: I’m here for all of it.

However, often they’re not that appealing to people beyond a quick daydream, as the way we live now has changed so much since these cottages were built. The rooms are often small and dark, as opposed to the bright, open spaces we tend to favour nowadays.

This is why I think an old cottage that needs renovation is actually the perfect solution. When you’re having to do work to it anyway, it gives the opportunity to make adjustments, perhaps opening up the layout or adding an extension.

As a result you’ll get the best of both worlds: a home full of charm but with adjustments made for modern living. Here are three cottages that are in need of refurbishment, but as they all come in under €100,000, you have a better chance of having funds left to create your dream home inside.

Busherstown Lodge, Moneygall, Co Offaly, €80,000

This former gate lodge has beautiful period features, and is actually larger than it appears from the front. Although it needs renovation, it has clearly been updated and lived in relatively recently, with skylights, modern radiators and wood floors visible in several rooms.

It comes with half an acre of land, and is just a kilometre from the M7, giving easy access to Limerick and Portlaoise.

Blue Bell Cottage, Dungarvan, Co Kilkenny, €75,000

This cottage will be residing in my daydreams for the foreseeable future: would you look at those stone walls? Sure, inside things are a little less picturesque, but it’s definitely a chance to reconfigure the layout and put your own stamp on things (just please don’t rip out those gorgeous wooden doors).

It’s actually two adjoining cottages, for sale together, so there’s lots of scope to make this into a decent-sized home. Just 18 minutes from Kilkenny and less than 10 from Thomastown, it’s also a nicely quiet location, but with plenty of amenities nearby.

Lehid, Tuam, Galway, €90,000

A more recent dwelling than the other two, this 1950s cottage still has plenty of charm. Like the second property, it will need quite a lot of work, but land to the side of the house offers scope for extension as well as renovation.

Around an hour from Galway and 5 from the Milltown village, it also has good access to local shops.

Click through our gallery to see more images from each home.