Swiss Cottage

About the museum

The Swiss Cottage is a cottage orné, an ornamental country retreat designed to look like an idealised rural cottage. It was built around 1810 on the Cahir estate for Richard Butler, later first Earl of Glengall, and its design is attributed to the architect John Nash. The estate owners used it to entertain guests, and its name probably comes from its resemblance to an Alpine chalet.

The building has a T-shaped plan with a thatched roof, timber verandas, a parquet floor and a timber spiral staircase. Some of the wallpapers are original, while others date from a restoration in the 1980s.

After years of neglect, a restoration began in 1985 under the Irish Georgian Society, the Port Royal Foundation and the designer Sybil Connolly. The cottage opened as a historic house museum in 1989 and is now run by the Office of Public Works. Visitors can see the decorated rooms only on a guided tour.

Highlights

• Thatched cottage orné attributed to John Nash
• Decorated rooms with partly original wallpaper
• Timber spiral staircase and parquet floor
• Guided tours for small groups of up to 12 people

Permanent exhibition

• The Swiss Cottage – A guided tour through the decorated rooms of the cottage orné, with partly original wallpaper and a spiral staircase.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Office of Public Works (OPW) – Heritage Ireland

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Wednesday of each month (Heritage Ireland Free Wednesday; first come, first served, no online booking).

The price covers the guided tour.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is no lift and access is limited; visitors are asked to hold the handrail on the spiral staircase. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby-changing facilities are available. There is a family ticket and a child rate for ages 12 to 17.

Getting there & parking

The cottage is about 2 km south of Cahir town, off the R670 Ardfinnan Road. Access is only from Cahir via the R670; there is no access from the R668 Clogheen Road.

Amenities & dining

Car park and coach parking on site; toilets.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit