Construction of an Irish cottage/bungalow

[banjodeano]

Guys, i have been to Ireland a few times, and i have noticed that their old cottages/bungalows are often quite cheap, like these...
http://www.daft.ie/roscommon/bungalows-for-sale/elphin/kilnamryall-elphin-roscommon-1337061/
http://www.daft.ie/galway/bungalows...lure-begahascragh-ballinasloe-galway-1330016/
http://www.daft.ie/limerick/bungalows-for-sale/mountcollins/cragg-mountcollins-limerick-1328135/
and i have been toying with the idea of purchasing one, but someone told me the build quality is pretty poor, i know they need a full upgrade, and i am not a builder, but i wondered what you guys thought about the construction.
Would these properties have been built by proper builders, or just by land folk that needed shelter, what are they made of? are they solid? what would they be like for energy efficiency? and what about damp, would that be a problem?
any advice would be welcomed
Thanks

 

[vinn]

They were built as cottages to the same standard as cottages were built in all European countries - most of the kind you see in the photos will need extensive refurbishment.
Before offering for sale they are given a coat of white paint.
Most will have modern roofs because the original roofs would have been thatch or turf.

Any local builder will be well versed in refurbishing cottages - but you should educate yourself in the basics by following web sites like diynot and talking to local people.

 

[banjodeano]

They were built as cottages to the same standard as cottages were built in all European countries - most of the kind you see in the photos will need extensive refurbishment.
Before offering for sale they are given a coat of white paint.
Most will have modern roofs because the original roofs would have been thatch or turf.

Any local builder will be well versed in refurbishing cottages - but you should educate yourself in the basics by following web sites like diynot and talking to local people.

Thanks for that Vinn....yeah i need a lot of info about them, i will have to google and try and find some good stuff about them, hopefully when we go over again next year on holiday we can make a detour and visit a few for sale, just for a look and gather information
Cheers Vinn