Donegal helps Ireland’s bid to save thatched cottages

The race is on to save the remaining thatched cottages in Ireland and train the next generation to restore them to their former glory.

Donegal County Council has said there are more than 300 known thatched buildings in the county, but the “rate of loss of our historic thatch is a cause of concern”.

There are also a dwindling number of full-time thatchers left in Ireland.

A community hall in Portnoo, County Donegal, is the focus of a new custom built training centre, which aims to sustain the craft.

In Northern Ireland, there were about 40,000 thatched buildings in the 1950s but a a Department for Communities survey in 2023 estimated there are now fewer than 180.

The school in County Donegal uses different types of raw materials to thatch the roofs including water reed, wheat reed, flax and different straws.

The thatching school opened in October 2024 and runs free weekend courses which are funded by the Irish government.

Among the new batch of thatchers is Fidelma Toland, a farmer and part-time bar worker.

“I have a big interest in it, because my grandfather and my two uncles used to keep the thatch on the house maintained and I saw that as a wee girl,” she said.

Fidelma said it is vitally important to pass the thatching skills from one generation to the next.

“It’s all dying away sadly, but this school here is a great opportunity for anybody that wants to learn it and keep the tradition going.”

So far, about 20 people have signed up to take part in the courses, according to Conal Shovlin, one of the course founders.

Born in a thatched house in 1950, Mr Shovlin said his father used to “thatch the houses, the cow byres and the stables”.

“It’s very essential because it’s a national training centre for thatched roofs,” he added.

“And we cater for all the different styles.

“There’s the rope thatching in Donegal or the reed thatching in Wexford and Cork or the straw thatching or the flax thatching in Ulster and east Donegal, so it is important now that we train some young people very quickly that can pass it on.

“We’re pleasantly surprised about the amount of interest.”

John Masters, a technical adviser at the thatching school said there is a healthy interest in the new venture.

“We’ve tried to make the practice roofs with as many features as possible so that a student can come here and learn to thatch in many styles,” he added.

John Lafferty is a master thatcher and he said his expertise was passed down from his father.

“I think that anyone who comes in here comes in with enthusiasm and they want to learn,” he added.

“You need to have a hunger to learn.

“The course is very popular and we just can’t take everyone that is applying for it.”

He said tourists expect to see more thatched cottages when they come to Ireland.

“Unfortunately the thatched cottages are disappearing at a very fast rate.

“I’m hoping this course will reverse that trend.”

Mary Rose Kern runs a coffee shop in her thatched cottage in Kilmacrennan, County Donegal.

“There’s something very evocative about sitting in a thatched cottage with a big turf fire, eating traditional flat potato bread, wheaten bread and scones and eggs and they are all homemade,” she said.

“There’s something really special about that.”

She added: “The cottage has no internet or phone signal so you can just disconnect as well.”