{"id":3586,"date":"2026-10-10T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/?p=3586"},"modified":"2026-10-02T13:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T12:45:44","slug":"a-laois-woman-and-her-son-in-law-built-two-houses-on-the-one-site-and-share-a-garden-wall-%ca%bcbest-planning-decision-we-ever-made%ca%bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/a-laois-woman-and-her-son-in-law-built-two-houses-on-the-one-site-and-share-a-garden-wall-%ca%bcbest-planning-decision-we-ever-made%ca%bc\/","title":{"rendered":"A Laois woman and her son-in-law built two houses on the one site and share a garden wall \u2014 \u02bcbest planning decision we ever made\u02bc"},"content":{"rendered":"

They didn\u2019t set out to be pioneers<\/strong>, just to keep family<\/strong> close without crowding anyone. On a quiet lane in County Laois<\/strong>, a mother and her son\u2011in\u2011law<\/strong> each built a modest home on the same plot<\/strong>, divided by a low garden wall<\/strong>. The result is a life that is intertwined<\/strong> yet independent, as practical as it is personal<\/strong>\u2014and, in their words, the \u201csmartest planning<\/strong> call we ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A plot, a plan, and a family vision<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The idea started as a sketch<\/strong>, not a manifesto<\/strong>. Mary, a retired teacher<\/strong>, had land behind her old bungalow<\/strong>; Sean, an engineer with two kids<\/strong>, needed a base within cycling distance<\/strong> of town. \u201cWe wanted to be near<\/strong>, not on top of each other<\/strong>,\u201d Mary says. \u201cIt had to feel separate<\/strong>, but still together<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

They mapped out two compact<\/strong> houses angled to privacy<\/strong>, each with its own front<\/strong> door, driveway, and kitchen window<\/strong> view. Between them, a shared garden wall<\/strong>\u2014low enough for a wave, tall enough for a pause<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Navigating permission and practicalities<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Ireland\u2019s rural planning<\/strong> can be famously thorny<\/strong>, but their case had logic<\/strong>. Existing road access<\/strong>, safe sight\u2011lines, and a modest scale<\/strong> helped. \u201cWe kept it reasonable<\/strong>,\u201d Sean says. \u201cTwo homes<\/strong>, neither oversized, using the land efficiently<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

They worked with a local architect<\/strong> who knew council priorities<\/strong>: wastewater, sight distance<\/strong>, and the rural character<\/strong> of the lane. \u201cA single entrance<\/strong>, then a forked drive,\u201d he explains<\/strong>. \u201cNative hedging<\/strong>, a shared services<\/strong> trench where possible, and simple forms<\/strong> that sit lightly<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Two homes, one boundary<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The garden wall became a symbol<\/strong>, not a barrier<\/strong>. It defines space without fixing<\/strong> it. On Mary\u2019s side: herbs, espaliered pears<\/strong>, and a slim bench<\/strong> that catches late sun<\/strong>. On Sean\u2019s: football marks<\/strong> on the grass, a bike rack<\/strong>, and a corner for compost<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe agreed on a few rules<\/strong>,\u201d Mary says. \u201cKnock before you enter<\/strong>. No gardening at dawn with the strimmer<\/strong>. And if you borrow the wheelbarrow<\/strong>, bring it back<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The wall also anchors<\/strong> two rain\u2011garden beds<\/strong> that drink from both roofs<\/strong>. In summer, swallows flare<\/strong> over it; in winter, it blocks the worst<\/strong> of the wind.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Money, time, and trades shared<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Building side\u2011by\u2011side meant shared savings<\/strong>. One survey<\/strong>, one set of geotechnical<\/strong> tests, bulk\u2011bought insulation<\/strong>, and a single dig for utilities<\/strong>. They scheduled trades like a relay<\/strong>, not a collision<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saved on mobilisation<\/strong> costs, and on waste<\/strong>,\u201d Sean says. \u201cBut the bigger win<\/strong> was momentum. When one house hit a snag<\/strong>, the crews shifted to the other<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mary smiles. \u201cI learned the language of lintels<\/strong> and air\u2011tightness membranes<\/strong>. I also learned that tea solves most things<\/strong>\u2014strong, hot, and often<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Privacy balanced with proximity<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The layout works like a dance<\/strong>. Kitchen windows face away<\/strong>, living rooms are offset<\/strong>, and patio doors don\u2019t line up in a stare<\/strong>. Planting does the soft work<\/strong>\u2014silver birch<\/strong>, hazel, and a ribbon of grasses<\/strong> that move like a shared breath<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s the safety net<\/strong>,\u201d Mary says. \u201cIf I slip, someone is close<\/strong>. If they need a late\u2011night babysitter<\/strong>, I am two minutes in my slippers<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sean nods. \u201cThere\u2019s everyday magic<\/strong> in small helps<\/strong>\u2014a spare egg, a quick pickup<\/strong>, a ladder passed over the wall<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How it changed daily life<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Morning looks different<\/strong> now. The kids cycle past Nana\u2019s<\/strong> gate for a quick wave<\/strong>. Sunday smells like shared roast<\/strong> and rosemary from the beds<\/strong>. Evenings can be quiet<\/strong>, or they can be a porch\u2011side<\/strong> chat as swifts cut the sky<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a rhythm of hello<\/strong> and \u2018see you later<\/strong>,\u2019\u201d Mary says. \u201cNo obligation, just nearness<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Energy bills are lower<\/strong> than expected: airtight shells<\/strong>, heat\u2011pump systems, and a communal mindset<\/strong>\u2014one tumble\u2011dryer run instead of two<\/strong> when timings align<\/strong>. They log maintenance on a shared calendar<\/strong>: chimney sweep<\/strong>, gutter clean<\/strong>, hedge trim<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What would they do differently?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Not much, but there were lessons<\/strong>. The wall needed a proper foundation<\/strong> to prevent seasonal heave<\/strong>. The shared bin store<\/strong> wanted better screening<\/strong>. And though the drive fork<\/strong> works, they\u2019d add clearer lighting<\/strong> cues for winter nights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep boundaries kind<\/strong>, not fussy<\/strong>,\u201d Sean says. \u201cAnd wire for more sockets<\/strong> than you think. Trust me on the sockets<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Considering a similar path? Start here<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  • Talk early with a local planning officer<\/strong> and an architect who knows rural policy<\/strong>; align your scheme with visibility, drainage, and scale<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Design for acoustic and visual privacy<\/strong> first; friendship thrives when space feels respected<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Share where it counts<\/strong>\u2014surveys, trenches, deliveries\u2014while keeping ownership lines clear<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Write house rules you all sign<\/strong>; small courtesies prevent future friction<\/strong><\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Plant for soft screens<\/strong> and year\u2011round structure; hedges outlast most fences<\/strong><\/li>\n

    \n<\/ul>\n

    <\/p>\n

    A quiet blueprint for modern family life<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    What they built is not a compound<\/strong>, nor a compromise. It is a gentle pattern<\/strong> for living near<\/strong>, trading loneliness for lightness<\/strong>, and dependency for mutuality<\/strong>. The wall keeps edges tidy<\/strong>; the gate in it keeps hearts open<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Mary laughs when asked for a final verdict<\/strong>. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t only about saving<\/strong> money,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was about saving<\/strong> time\u2014time with the people who make life good<\/strong>.\u201d Sean adds, \u201cCall it a home\u2011made co\u2011operative<\/strong>. Two roofs, one quiet understanding<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3586"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3616,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586\/revisions\/3616"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}