What kind of houses would you find in a tiny village in Co. Mayo?

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Priscilla Duck

Okay, I thought that you were writing a book or something from your last post!

If I were you I'd create a new Mayo village out of some of the ones on this fairly comprehensive website:
http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/
(loads of pics included)

As for what kind of houses are there, it depends on whether the person is rich or poor, how long they've lived in the area, what their jobs is, how many kids they have and whether or not the story is set in modern day Ireland.

Most people no longer live in the old-style stone built cottages that dot the landscape. Most of these have either tumbled down or been restored and are rented out as holiday accommodation.
They look like this:
http://www.teachphilbin.com/
and will usually be set on about 1/2 - 1 acre of land, much less if they are actually inside the village.

Wealthier farming families had houses like this (maybe a bit smaller):
http://www.seamountfarm.com/
with haybarns and sheds and stuff forming a sort of informal courtyard area at the back. The amount of land would depend on the wealth of the family, but anywhere from 20 to 250 acres would be the norm. These can be dark inside with small windows and low ceilings. They can be cold and damp and the main rooms are heated with an open fire - although most have been modernised by now.

Most families built new houses on a nearby piece of land. From the 60s until today, these were mostly modern 3 or 4 bedroom bungalows like this:
http://www.breezemountbb.com/

The grander 2-storey 80s version is more like this:
http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/Mayo/Towns/CasBar/Windermere.htm

Most houses are built with concrete blocks which would be rendered over, a tiled or slated roof, and not enough insulation. Central heating is often supplied by burning turf or coal in a range (a Stanley or an Aga), although oil and alternative energy supplies are becoming more commonplace. More modern houses can be timber-framed, but again, most are at least clad with blocks to withstand the wet climate. Thatch is now a rarity.

If you go to http://www.daft.ie and search the Mayo section, you'll see photos and descriptions of authentic Mayo houses for sale.

Typical street scene (larger village)
http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/Mayo/Towns/Kilti/Kilti.htm

Podge and Rodge Tribute Band

Tudor style mainly

Trust me I'm a Doctor â™¥

Depends how much money you have, it you have loads of money you may have a huge 7 bedroom, 3 story house with 2 acres of ground including stables and out buildings. We don't do ranch or colonial here in Ireland really but most houses are concrete built, not brick.

If you happen to be broke, unemployed or got accidentally pregnant at the age of 17 you might be less well off and have 1 bed council house with a 10ft square back "yard".

Kazza

Are you writing a book based in the west of IReland without ever having been there? surely thats not going to work.

Good luck with that

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