Village scheme has roofs with a view

Tommy Barker marvels at a development of 15 luxury thatched homes.

“OF COURSE I’m a romantic, I wouldn’t have driven down here every day for two years to do this if I wasn’t,” says Pat McCoy of his labour of love, the reed-topped Waterford scheme, St James Wood.

The finished picture oozes appeal and chocolate box images, with dense thatch curving over eyebrow windows, rough plaster windows and gardens strewn with wild flower planting and landscaping. Ye gods, it even backs on to a 18th century Church of Ireland building and medieval church ruins.