Something that I love? Videos of DIY builds, home builds, construction — and my favorite for quite a while now? The Irish Homestead — and the best Irish cottage house history I’ve seen on video. I watch plenty of other great builds in the vast amounts of downtime I have, but this one hits home for me in so many ways.
I discovered Becky, Sam, their kids, and menagerie after the North of Ireland History Society and I collaborated on tracing my Templeton family origins in Islandmagee. How could I not dive into watching this family build an Irish homestead?
“This is the story of an abandoned house and farm…”
This is more than a story about an abandoned house and farm. It’s a story of a family who quite literally drove themselves into Zen — “bringing complete, clear attention to everyday tasks like eating, walking, or working” (The Zen Studies Society).
This house history is done well, interweaving old and new through visuals, documentation, and oral history. It’s a wonderful example for anyone wanting to research and present their own — or any — house history. The Irish Homestead.
Here is the video description from the YouTube channel:
81,545 views Jul 10, 2026
“Three years ago, our offer was accepted on this forgotten old Irish cottage… and our lives changed forever.
To celebrate the anniversary, we’re looking back at everything that’s happened since that life-changing phone call, while also digging into the history of the cottage itself.
From old census records and historic maps to the families who called this place home long before us, we’re uncovering the story of the people who lived here over the last 250 years.
We’re also meeting our wonderful neighbours, who are restoring the newer Percival family home next door, and hear from Gabriel, who was good friends with Victor, the last of the Percivals.Thank you for being part of this incredible journey over the past three years. We couldn’t have done it without your support, and we’re so grateful you’ve chosen to follow along as we continue bringing this little corner of Ireland back to life.”
❤️ Rebecca, Sam, Isabella & Euan
Enjoy this wonderful house history!
Who Lived Here Before Us & What The Neighbours Think! – The Irish Homestead
Enjoy all of The Irish Homestead posts from the beginning on their YouTube Channel – The Irish Homestead
Apologies to Marian Pierre-Louise, my friend and favorite house historian, but this post had me cheering from my sofa. We may need to make room for them at the breakfast table at Roots Tech.
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