A Brush with the Past
Artist Jacqueline revived two dilapidated farm cottages to create a rural escape in the West of Ireland in Kenmare.Living in London Jacqueline O’Driscoll, an artist, had always enjoyed escaping the city and holidaying in picturesque Co.Kerry. She had also always dreamt of buying a home there. ‘I love the landscape of the area which I find very inspiring for my paintings, which are nearly all landscape based. Back in 1994 I was out walking with friends in the area and we happened upon some derelict cottages, I discovered they had been empty for around 35 years, still full of old pieces of furniture and horse hair mattresses, it looked like the previous owner had just shut the door and walked out.’ The whole site was very overgrown with large rhododendrons pushing up against the two buildings and water seeping in through the back wall, they were in very bad condition.
Read more in the October issue…
