We bought a 200-year-old abandoned cottage in Ireland | Going off-grid

Hi!
We're the Greenes, and last year, we sold everything we owned and moved 500 miles west from the Uk to rural Ireland to pursue our dream of off-grid eco-living.
Today we show you around the acre we've bought and some of the plans we have for it.
Other than what we've read in books we're total beginners, but with a Passion for DlY, the Planet and living on our own terms. If that sounds interesting to you, we'd love for you to tag along.
Thanks for watching!

[@natalieflanagan175]

Fair play to you’s . Love to see people actually getting busy and creating the lifestyle they want. Wishing you all a happy life, good health and memories. 👏👏🇮🇪☘️

[@tribeoflight-ireland868]

Good luck. I am English and have been in Ireland 7 years in County Sligo. I bought a partly renovated cottage, the essentials were already done but have put in a rainwater system, proper drainage, a polytunnel and i have 2 solar panels and batteries to keep the fridge and other things going in an emergency. It is hard work but the freedom and peace is great.

[@user-xn3ks1tl1f]

Brave souls following your dreams. There looks to be an absolute mountain of work to be done - but in beautiful, natural surroundings. Lots to experience. Lots to learn about all sorts of things. I hope you can create a comfortable home and enjoy what looks to be a peaceful haven.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

Great stuff. I did similar in Bulgaria. One thing that I would recommend is, that IF you intend to live in that caravan for any length of time then build yourself a barn type structure over the top of it on a raised gravel bed. It makes a huge difference having that roof extending over the caravan allowing you to take boots on/off in a dry space and outside the caravan. During the winter you can close in the sides with nylon sheeting/straw bales etc. Good luck.

[@julzhepburn3688]

Hope they take your advise and put a roof above their caravan or it will rot away , also recommend, Woodburn over gas heaters,,gas makes Indoors and apart from making you ill speeds up the "rotting caravan" element. Although they disintegrate just as quickly in spanish sunshine ,if they don't have shade,

[@sonminorimitsuu2838]

That is great advice

[@sheiladumigan451]

❤

[@brackloon4584]

You'll need planning permission to build or place anything permanent on the land.

[@TheNinja691]

@@brackloon4584🙄🥱

[@Kysushanz]

I'm from County Antrim and consider myself Irish - I hold an Irish Passport. I'm on the other side of the world and would dearly love to be able to move back to Ireland and start an off-grid life. However, age is now agin me and I must look on with some envy.

[@norawhite6612]

💕🙏🏻🇮🇪

[@tinahale9252]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I'd not be found for a century

[@tinahale9252]

Too bad we don't know one another

[@sheiladumigan451]

Yup same here!!? moved from Ireland to the US 35 years ago with my husband...been a good life but would love to return but age is against us too. May God Bless this family with their new home 🙏❤️

[@britishginge4474]

County Antrim is part of the U.K.🇬🇧

[@mrtablesawful]

I'm quite envious. Good luck on your adventure! That child of yours has a magical place to grow up.

[@sheiladumigan451]

❤

[@alisoncrossey6984]

You are living my dream!! I’ve been looking at Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim for years but cannot leave yet but I will, one day ❤ I look forward to following your channel ( with envy !! ) xx

[@heidihughes8806]

The best of luck with transforming your lovely piece of land into a homestead. Looking forward to following your journey 🙂👍❤

[@38below39]

Lovely piece of property. I'm looking forward to watch your build .. watching from Canada

[@jjpower6769]

Welcome to Ireland. I wish you the best in you're new adventure. Your neighbours have lived there for generations. They have the answers to all your questions. If they don't have the answers then they'll know someone who does. You could try Intreo, the Irish social welfare system. You might be entitled to some assistance, maybe even aweekly payment. Also, there might be government grants to help you to do up your cottage. In Ireland, our TD's, (MP's) have offices in their constituencies. The staff in these offices have a lot of knowledge of what is assistance is availble. They'll be glad to help you. Ad it's all free. Your neighbours will advise you who best to go to. I hope that you are as successful as Mossy Bottom.

[@martinoleary5268]

Good solid advice there. Well done !

[@sonminorimitsuu2838]

That is very kind of you, I have applied for my Irish citizenship, as my grandparents was Irish immigrants :) when I get that, I want to get a forest and something like this in Ireland, my family from Kells Co Meath, where is this spot h they have got the cottage?

[@popcornlover948]

It looks beautiful, congratulations. I will look forward to seeing your journey.

[@sagradobethgravina]

Wow… how amazing !!!!! I love Ireland! Thanks a lot! ❤

[@Xtramedium1961]

Take your time doing it up everyone’s rooting for ya !

[@natureisallpowerful]

Good luck,you're definitely doing the right thing. ❤

[@aruvielevenstar3944]

Beautiful ❤I love to see how you make it all beautiful and livable again❤

[@simontenkate9601]

You have the two most important things : fresh unadulterated water and firewood. The rest you will arrange. Look for what this "abandoned" nature can provide you with, before trying to "modernize" and "streamline" everything. Good luck!

[@scarletred8888]

Nice video - I would really like to know what the cost and estimated future costs would be, I have watched a lot of these 'building a new life off grid in Ireland' and it always seems to be people who have come from elsewhere who are taking the leap and doing this - why aren't young Irish people interested ? I am from and live in Dublin, I wish my kids who live abroad would come back here and do something like this.

[@markocarroll9424]

It would depend on the skills of the person buying the property It could cost hundreds of thousands, my sister did up old cottage she inherited for about 100,000 _roof was big cost at 30,000 _ this place could be more expensive as it has long road in and out buildings My dad is farmer in Kerry and I have seen a lot of old cottages like this We call the stream a 'glasha' , look at Cork city and Glasheen Road, there is a stream at the bottom of it

[@2learn4ever]

Certain skills are necessary for this kind of life. Maybe your kids prefer modern life, flush toilet, all mod cons, can't blame them either. It takes a certain kind of passion to survive the off-grid life. I'd love to have done it in the 70's when we were in our 20's but neither of us had the skills and he certainly isn't handy with diy either so if we had ventured, we'd have failed miserably.

[@trohannycottageireland]

Jesus what a lot of horrible negative comments on here. I look forward to you guys proving them all wrong. Anything is achievable if you are determined. I know, im living in the end result! Wishing you the best of luck with it all 🍀

[@2learn4ever]

I agree. I watched a lot of these cottage/homestead videos, and this is the first one I've encountered such negative comments.

[@the.vanbuzz-campingandoutd4772]

Wow fair play guys, that's class. I'll be following along , best of luck.

[@sharondiaz137]

Wish you would have shown more of the cottage

[@blueocean2510]

A camping Tunnel or Pod, may be more suitable as they can be placed directly on site. A modern compost toilet is a solution as it does not use valuable water.

[@TheNinja691]

I don’t think water is a problem in Ireland 😂

[@margarethoffman6492]

What an adventure! All best wishes and good luck to you!

[@bevfitzsimmonds3382]

Oooh! Lovely! I live in a very dry area in Australia, and all of that greenery...those gorgeous ferns....such bliss! All the very best for your dream! I have subscribed, and am waiting for the next exciting episode.... ❤🫂😊

[@tinahale9252]

Good on you young one's and I am certainly think the gravity of the situation is landing. It's a real change don't give in to the easy, this will be worth it

[@davinautting3198]

Welcome to the Off-gridders of North-West Ireland! There are dozens of us around, always happy to help! Oh, btw, I'm in North Leitrim, feel free to give me a shout!

[@GreeneDiaries]

That would be Grand! We love meeting like minded people!

[@8thsinner]

I'd love to chat with you myself. I am not in a position to buy anywhere as of yet on account of my benefits and autism, but I am hoping to find a landowner in NI that will accept my benefits for a spot of land I can build on over the years. If you have a community i'd love to ask them.

[@davinautting3198]

@8th sinner Our community is in Ireland. Whilst we could advise and help with the set up of an off-grid life, the laws regarding land usage are very different to those you'd be subject to.

[@GreeneDiaries]

@8th sinner There are a lot of CO-op communities in ireland, I'm not sure about NI as it's British Territory, but that could be an option for you. I ( Shannie ) am Autistic too and have a lifelong connective tissue dissability, which can affect my mobility. Moving off grid has been the single best decision we've made for my health, so if it's something you'd like to pursue, then I'd 100% encourage that. You can email us if you'd like. My email is [e-mail] I can only advise for the republic of ireland, though I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to find the uk info online :)

[@8thsinner]

@@GreeneDiaries Yeah, I have tried basic searches online but all I keep running into is projects that were shut down years ago so the results are being hidden or filtered out form me. So it looks like I need to make contact you you guys and then through that maybe find someone who knows people up here doing similar. I'll throw you an email and we can find a better way to chat properly.

[@sonminorimitsuu2838]

I am absolutely buzzing for you and all you family.

[@lynzwilliams7435]

Wow beautiful 😍 can't wait to see your progress with this! Then we can come and stay! Lol xxx

[@maeliosashannon4246]

You go for it. Well done.

[@mskazz642]

Oh wow this one is truly off grid. Goodluck can’t wait to see how you get on.🤗

[@glossalth]

I probably dont live far away from you,i done something similar 27 years ago 1996, not quite as extreme, but good luck with it,,there was alot of those kind of properties around then ,but now there been snapped up its a different world we live in today. Now with the power of Social media ,Solar panels ,working from home, clean air privacy, Off/grid living is very much sought after.its an almighty project,and now with the price of Building material, and trying to get good and reliable trades people, its a big ask ,but stick with it ,and you will end up with your own little paradise.,(i did) and i have no regrets .

[@mskazz642]

Oh wow. Can’t wait to see how you get on. Goodluck.😊

[@UKProperPrepper]

Great video, I live in a stone cottage built in 1780 in south Wales, UK. I must put up a video as it so interesting to see.

[@dinty66]

Best of luck !! Lot of hard graft ahead !!

[@rozchristopherson648]

I live on a 3 acre property in Pennsylvania , USA. My home was built in 1850. But the house was built up on the road because quick access to the road was important back then. So there’s traffic. But I have thick soundproof windows so that is not a problem. I’m 62 so I appreciate not having a long driveway to shovel out of in winter. I also now appreciate being close to the road in case I should need to get someone’s immediate attention for help. These are things important to me as I age. But you are a young couple, so enjoy yourselves. I would have loved a property such as yours back when I was younger.

[@brownale1000]

Very best of luck on your plans, great video subscribed cheers

[@goaskalice83]

What an amazing spot, ye are very brave.

[@johncooper8604]

Looks great!

[@Anna-wu8mp]

Wishing you all the very best with everything you do 💚

[@andrewmellon5072]

I remember and was in a great many houses like this. I lived in a tin roof 3 room cottage in the 70s. It is great to be near a main road. As you know there is a grant of 30,000 for reconstruction. There could be snags as regards the B.E.R. on the finished house. If you can afford it build a new small house with damp proof courses and insulation. Reconstruction can entail just a tiny wall of the original. If you can face the windows to the winter sun, woods permitting it is worth a great deal. Get connected to the ESB you can then pump water from your well, if no mains. Always bear in mind that the local people are and were more knowledgeable than you and they abandoned houses like this as soon as they could and they knew all about off grid living. It all takes money sadly.

[@paulak7939]

Boy you have some work to do ! Make sure the bridgecan take the weight of heavy trucks. I have family inn ireland n it can flood when the rains aare heavy n very boggy land... hard work but what fun !!! Good luck x

[@brigitnunez6735]

Wow amazing. Wishing you well but I am very jealous of your beautiful setting.

[@Greenmanure62]

Good for you! Enjoy.

[@marjoriejohnston3038]

All the best 👍☘

[@jakecavendish3470]

I own 5 of these in Ireland but they haven't been inhabited since the 1950s. One day I'd like to restore them but not sure if anyone would want to rent them off me as they are only four rooms each

[@markocarroll9424]

Where are they ? My sister renovated old cottage in Kerry and rents it out There is housing shortage in Ireland, many people moving here from all over world

[@jakecavendish3470]

@@markocarroll9424 They're in Armagh but they are quite remote

[@markocarroll9424]

@@jakecavendish3470 even northern Ireland is meant to have a homeless issue/ housing shortage too but I don't go up there I know people down here in the Republic say stuff is cheaper up there Maybe you could look into it or if over visiting call into a local auctioneer to see what he thinks

[@jeannedorsey8122]

How exciting!!!

[@sethupathy27]

Good luck.Have a clean surrounding.

[@marymulligan6618]

Good luck☘

[@brianfarrelly7151]

I see a comment suggesting that you buy some goats to clear your field and note that “The Restoration Couple” have used pigs to successfully clear shrubs, brambles etc with great results. Best wishes for your project.

[@lil-al]

Cold, wet, rainy and green. This is my idea of heaven.

[@georgeheaver5687]

Beautiful spot.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Good luck!

[@jacquelinechilvers9361]

Hope everything still going ok, and you are all well.

[@GreeneDiaries]

Hi Jacqueline 👋 We're all doing good, there will be a new video very soon, We had some issues with editing, but that's fixed now. Thank you for checking in😁 Hope you're Well too?

[@jacquelinechilvers9361]

@GreeneDiaries All fine here I'm glad for you all. Keep on keeping on x

[@richardh8347]

N17 so mayo or Galway. Nice. Mayo myself. Keep up the good work

[@kingcountrykiwi7429]

Honestly if I don’t read the caption just going by the landscape I would have assumed this was New Zealand. The ferns, bramble, open land, streams, wet environment lol.

[@marcusd2380]

Just found ur channel and subscribed. U have a lot of work a head of you there. If can afford it buy a small 3t digger it will cheaper in the long run

[@lynnetudor863]

The very best of luck to you 🎃

[@istra70]

It's nice to be a dreamer - the question is at what price ? In any case good luck.... ( you'll need it )....

[@PATMOORE-hd5uj]

Hello and welcome! I will be tagging along with great interest. Maybe me and these other viewers can offer some help or advice. I am in NW Ireland near the border. I look forward to your success......P🥰

[@oldthudman]

A "Skid Loader" (Bobcat) with a forestry mulcher will clean that property up nicely.......

[@martinfinlay5971]

Live you're dream. 👏 👏 👏

[@linarez90]

It's a nice dream, but I would have thought it would take upwards of £200k to make it habitable. There will be a big problem with drainage, damp etc.. It would need a structural engineering report before any building work and if that was OK, it would be like building from scratch. If you're living in a caravan and do the work yourself it could be ten years and the cost of getting building materials to the site is another issue. It depends on what you want in life, but the weather, costs and discomfort could be a tough challenge. If you had a builder, it' d be a case of finding the right one!

[@strikemehandsome]

Or you could use all the natural clay and straw around you and repair it to how it was first built.

[@linarez90]

@@strikemehandsome Unfortunately people in those days had an average age of 35, suffered severe environmentally caused illness and had a pretty miserable existence.

[@strikemehandsome]

@@linarez90 surely your not blaming the building materials for consumption and the lack of vaccines. Surely your not trying to tell me you don't understand the insulation properties of earth and straw. Surely your not telling me you don't understand that lime mortar allows for moisture transfer through substrate and keep buildings warmer?

[@linarez90]

@@strikemehandsome Troll.

[@strikemehandsome]

@@linarez90 if you like.

[@annawoods5184]

Beautiful just joining your journey, lotsa luck. How did u find this little piece of heaven & was it expensive? Where do u live for now?

[@GreeneDiaries]

Hi Anna, Thank you so much 😁 We live on site in a caravan, & we're editing a video currently about the price of this place, & how we were able to move. 😄 If you hit the bell youtube will notify you when it's live

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Good luck

[@connoroleary591]

Filmed in the middle of an Irish "summer".

[@COOLDUDE29578]

❤

[@TommyShelby577]

Good luck with that

[@deanodog3667]

Looks boggy good luck with that !

[@thewildgoose7467]

Ah, the innocence of youth....That's some project you've got ahead of you? Go for it by all means but I'm just saying from my experiences that it's going to require A LOT of hard work and a fair bit of money to get where you want to be. Good luck on your adventure.

[@brijones]

fench it off hire some goats they will clear the place in no time

[@ironfistarrival]

Hi , please tell us more about the Prices Of the lands and the land’s sizes in Ireland .

[@GreeneDiaries]

video coming soon!

[@jollyrogerupyours]

proximity and noise of that main road undermines this which is a pity, hope that works out

[@mikewalker5287]

Was there anything interesting left in the cottage?

[@Keith-ui4tp]

Do u need a perculation dig, if it fails you won't get planning, I've learnt that the hard way. Hope your ok .ground looks very boggy .

[@jamesgtmoore]

If it fails does that not just mean that you need to install a septic tank in order to be permitted to build a house?

[@blueocean2510]

A modern compost toilet is the solution, it does not waste valuable water.

[@redders6858]

You need to get yourselves a couple of goats to sort out that overgrowth.

[@blueocean2510]

It may be advisable to have the house and area checked for Geopathic stress, many ancient sites, including old dwellings may be vacant as a result of negative energy, Geopathic stress.

[@louiseeckert1574]

Too late now...they’ve already bought the property.

[@TheNinja691]

The only negative energy is coming from you. That structure is fine, it hasn’t been lived in for 100 years and is still standing.

[@blueocean2510]

@@TheNinja691 It is not a structure it is a ruin. In the New EU all of these ruins will be removed.

[@TheNinja691]

@@blueocean2510 you make it sound like something out of Star Wars. I guess that would make Klaus Schwabb Darth sideous 😳

[@stephenwalsh8184]

👍

[@judehillybilly]

Is there a busy road nearby?!

[@crownethorne]

Hmmm , that noisy road!

[@geordiegeorge9041]

Living in a cottage of grid, for me paradise but for my wife a nightmare.

[@annette4444]

Hello OBRIEN family

[@blueocean2510]

Where are you from? Good wishes.

[@fleented]

Ireland looks a lot like the pacific northwest

[@gabunka65]

Nice to see your video, but unfortunately the recordings make me seasick - maybe you should use a Gimbal - Good luck on your adventure!

[@beansidhe12]

i may be living near you im not sure area looks familar welcome

[@patrickcunniff5936]

Did they tell you it rains here?

[@TheErsatzMode]

You likely picked the wrong country, unless you enjoy constant rain and disappointment. I'd advise getting out as soon as you can. Five months later, perhaps you realise now.

[@markocarroll9424]

Yes alot of work and very expensive Ireland is very dear compared to other EU countries I live in Kerry, west coast of Ireland gets huge amount of rain

[@TheNinja691]

I’m guessing you left then? Where did you move to?

[@lisax23]

Have you got planning permission ???

[@markocarroll9424]

My understanding is that because there is a house / cottage there already the planning process is easier , if needed at all Hard to get planning permission if just a field , need to live / work in area

[@user-ze8jl3dv1j]

Are you guys going to specialise in potato growing or something? Just curious as to the name of your channel.

[@emcc8598]

Dafuq?

[@marcelboogaard3809]

Untouched for a 100 years? Nice corrugated roof they put on back then😂

[@davidlee6720]

Don't know the difference between a river and a stream then, o well , we all make mistakes. Good luck to you and your family.

[@TheNinja691]

Do you know how to read? He corrected himself by putting a caption on screen.

[@sarojinichaudhury179]

'Visited' Ireland for the first time ...as if ina dream ...unfamiliar views .(except for the watery road and ferns and the brown - coloured grass field which gives the impression of a ripened rice field ...do not know the locatolion ...only know that the place exists on this earth ...which I will never be able to explore ...(our Mother Earth is so vast )!

[@meatballs9453]

You live by a motorway? Sounds loud

[@lavignemorte]

It's just a dual carriageway.

[@garryharrington8255]

im off grid now for 25 yrs, not eazy but great,, just do it ,

[@gerrymcentee981]

Nice but a fair amount work ahead , will be worth it in the end.

[@Gringohuevon]

Are you mad?