White O'Morn Cottage was built in the mid 1800's by the Duignan family. They were weavers and to this day the cottage is referred to as the "Weaver Duignans" The weaving room is now the kitchen, seen here to the right of the entrance door.
It stayed in the Duignan family until we bought it two years ago. The family called it Curraghnabania and we renamed it White O'Morn Cottage.
The mirror in the picture was altered by me to mark the transition of the house from the Duignan's to the Flynns. I painted it pale blue and then using a fine Tippex pen wrote (It's hard to read in photo) "Flynn's" across the top,"White O'Morn" down the right hand side, "Curraghnabania down the left hand side and "Duignan's " across the bottom. I finished it off with some tiny dried flowers in the bottom right hand corner.
The last Duignan to be born there (now a grown man) knocked on the door one day to introduce himself and we became fast friends with him and his family. We also had the honour of meeting his mother, who was the last "Ban an Tí" (Woman of the House) They are delighted with how their old home is looking and know that they are welcome there anytime.
This photo shows Michael (the last Duignan to be born in the cottage) my lovely husband, Paul and Michael's mother, Anna (the last Duignan to occupy the house) Anna now lives in the nearby town close to her family. The beautiful young girl in the photo behind them is Fiona Duignan, daughter of Michael and Helen Duignan, who sadly passed away a few years ago aged twelve.
Lovely to meet you-- and thanks for stopping by the blog over the weekend. It's so nice to get to see the vintage decorating approach there in Ireland (it shows what a small world it really has become)! I will happily go off to add a link to you in my blogroll.
Posted by: Thrift Shop Romantic | February 25, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Thanks so much for popping over to my blog, it is very much appreciated. How great to know the history of your place, I would love to live in a period cottage, it was have so much feel and character. You will I no doubt learn a lot more about its history and its keepers from its generations of previous owners. I have added you to my sidebar, thanks again. x
Posted by: Louise | February 26, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Fascinating, friends of our's live in an old weavers cottage near Darwin & they love it too bits.
Posted by: carolyn | February 27, 2008 at 03:29 AM
Hi Pamela, I am so happy to have found your blog! I love your cottage and what you are doing with it. What a beautiful country that you live in! I'm looking forward to learning more about your little weavers cottage. I also want to say how much I like the mirror. It has given me an idea! Thanks and I look forward to reading more of your blog!
Posted by: Rose Mary | February 27, 2008 at 09:30 AM
I got the link to this from another forum and must say, what a lovely home you have there. And the shamrock craze, must be catching because I went to Buid-A-Bear the other day with my dd to get me the Shamrock Bear. You'd think that at my age getting a teddy bear would be over with. Guess not. LOL
I'm going to have to come back and visit again. Love your finds and interesting to see what you can find in a thrift shop over the pond. ;)
Posted by: Tanya | February 27, 2008 at 10:24 AM
The "look" of your home is very much like the Hanley family home (the 'dairying' Hanleys as my mother always said) in Strokestown. Because I am unfamilar with where you are- is that close to you? My brother had traveled to Ireland and found out much about our history. My granddaughter is named Ella Ireland- my children love their Irish heritage!
You home is beautiful. I love the flowers in the windows. And all those smiling Irish eyes- happy, happy, happy!
Colleen
Posted by: Colleen | March 02, 2008 at 11:07 PM