22/08/2026
Millie's Cottage Preservation Group
Millieās Cottage is a heritage building in Smithfield founded by a local Legan committee including the late Fr. Peter Brady who wanted to have a standing representation of a true heritage cottage, so many of which we have lost in our local area of Legan and across Ireland. It was commissioned around the year 2000 on a site which was once known as watery lane - maybe we can continue to call that! Using local stone and original materials itās filled with artefacts and memorabilia of times passed. Millieās cottage stands as tribute to our local ancestry and heritage.
A good crowd gathered at Millieās cottage at 7:30pm on Wednesday 19th August to hear a Heritage Week talk given by James Bannon on the history and the importance of reclaiming and preserving our local heritage. The first thing we noticed were the impressive amount of old receipts displayed on the large dining table (donated by Noel Frawley) - a real insight into the everyday life of local people; food and hardware that they bought, the farming equipment, feed, to***co and alcohol. Bread and rashers were up there as the most sought after!
It was apt that there was a receipt from Whytes Supermarket which will be changing hands soon and become another part of local history.
The interior of the house itself is filled with items donated by local people. The committee would love if anybody has anything they would like to donate even if you donāt think that anybody might be interested in it please contact them because all aspects of our local heritage are so important to keep a living memory of our past.
The committee had organised refreshments- tea and apple tart and all kinds of cakes and tasty treats to enjoy outside in the garden at Millieās. We were lucky to have good weather and then we went inside to the cool and dimly lit cottage to to hear about the history.
In Jamesās words, the Irish cottage is āAn unshakeable image of cultural heritageā. We learned that there were approximately 278 thatched cottages locally in 1936. It was fascinating to hear how they were built using local trees and stone and resources from the bog or from the fields. Legan even had its own Brickfields and some chimneys were made from those bricks. We learned of the number and proficiency of thatchers, the types of thatch materials (reed, straw or flax) Heather and scraw for the less well off, sougĆ”n ropes, the treatments that were used, techniques, the use of sally rods. And even 2 story thatched cottages with porches for those more comfortably off.
There was also mention of landlord evictions but in one instance the community came together to build houses for those who had become homeless. We were keen to hear how Millieās cottage got its moniker. The āSpriggerā Harrington was Millie Harrington a Sprigger was somebody who worked with lace and she was a lacemaker in Foxhall House.
The everyday items in an Irish cottage were fascinating some in attendance even remembered using some of these! Weāre all aware of butter paddles and settle beds but there were others less known (to me at least!) such as a GRISSET and a PIGEEN (ill let you guess what that was or maybe youāll find out at the next talk!) One of the most striking things was that many of these items were made locally by Cooperās or carpenters, clog and crock makers.
James reminded us of the huge amount of hard work and labour women or other home makers carried out, detailing the daily jobs and importance of the everyday items like The besom brush, churns, wicker baskets, washboards, griddles, irons, drags, reaping hooks, pitchers, tin baths, scoops and mousetraps!
While there were any amount of lamps and candles and every day items that most homes would have had at the time. There were also items that you would be privileged to afford such as a gramophone, enjoyed at ceiles at home or rambling houses. We learned that the old bush wireless was introduced to the parish by Frank Murray so people had more access to news and outside events in their homes.
We also heard of sad times and how many cottages came to be destroyed by big winds or big snowfall where rafters would collapse. Poor conditions led to an association with TB or consumption that many people suffered from. We learned of natural remedies, whether they be from the bog or the bottle!
Most impressively we were enlightened by the fact that the first national group the newly established ICA (Irish Countrywomenās Association) in Legan invited were the ESB in 1954. I thought this was particularly impressive and progressive. Mrs Dawson was responsible for the first commissioned survey of local people for Rural Electrification, resulting in Legan being one of the first to get ESB in the area. Many people just got one room electrified and we heard it was the 1960s before the ESB arrived the Long Avenue!
The future - so where does Millieās cottage go from here? There is a committee, thereās great interest and next big job is to re-thatch the roof. Also to preserve everything within the cottage and treat for woodworm which has been started. A hole in the roof has been fixed and a future goal is to contact Failte Ireland as there are so many antiquities and records associated it could be a great interpretive Centre for locals and tourists alike. We are privileged in Legan to be surrounded by some of the most ancient burial grounds something Legan man Hugh Farrell of Longford Historical Society is expert in and is working to record and recognise.
This reminds the community of what we have and what we had. Heritage brings together a community of the past the present and the future, so make sure to follow Millieās cottage on social media and contact any member of the committee if youāre interested. Keep an eye out for further events and please do contribute to the fundraising if you can. This is everybodyās history.
Many thanks to James Bannon for sharing his knowledge and those who contributed. Apologies I donāt have the names of all the committee member to acknowledge! James Bannon Legan Tidy Towns Legan Ica Paul Ross Mick Cahill Longford Historical Society Heritage Week Visit Longford Legan Sarsfields GAA Whytes Supermarket
- Kerrie OāNeill 2026. (No Ai - except Facebook seems to insist on automating a headline with Ai that I canāt turn off - & please excuse all punctuation, grammar and spelling errors!)
