麻豆社

The nephew of an elderly brother and sister fights to save their home, a thatched cottage near the shores of Lough Foyle that has belonged to their family for over 300 years. Grace Dent tells their story.

The Quigley Cottage in Magilligan lies near the shores of Lough Foyle in Northern Ireland. It has belonged to the same family for over 300 years and has listed heritage status. Edward was born in it, and lives there with his elderly sister Eileen, without electricity or an indoor toilet. They cook with gas, and use gas lights. It is thought to the only cottage thatched with marram grass on the island of Ireland and dates from an age when local people scavenged the grass from nearby sand dunes to roof their homes.

In 2014, when a severe winter storm badly damaged a rear wall and caused part of the roof to collapse on top of Edward's bed, he was lucky to escape with his life. Now the cottage is almost too dangerous to live in. The rest of the roof and the rear wall could collapse at any time, and with winter storms approaching, they are desperate to find the money to their family home.

Their nephew Mark, an IT consultant who lives in Coleraine, has driven the campaign to save the cottage, but so far they haven't been able to secure the necessary funds. As winter draws in, Edward and Eileen must decide if they should leave their beloved cottage, and Mark makes one last attempt to raise the money for much-needed repairs.

Producer: Conor McKay.