A Co Louth man who creates thatched cottage models and displays them in his front garden has become something of a local tourist attraction.
Joe Corrigan from Annagassan originally started creating the cottages as a hobby after he retired just over two years ago.
“It’s just a hobby. I use timber and the reeds that grows around the river as the thatch. I also use soft mats too. You can’t get the original straw they used to use in thatch houses,” he tells The Irish Times.
Mr Corrigan says he tries to make a different design of house each time.
The cottages kept him occupied during the winter evenings. “At the beginning I had them inside, but then I thought you may as well put them out on display. They are a great attraction for the area... lots of people stop to get pictures. A lot of tourists stop. If it makes them happy, so what about it? It’s just a bit of fun.”