Grants launched to reverse 'loss' of historic thatch in Co. Donegal
Financial support worth up to €3,000 is on offer in Donegal in a bid to reverse the "rate of loss of historic thatch" in the county.
According to County Donegal heritage officer, Joseph Gallagher, there are more than 300 thatched buildings in the county but he is also warning that the decline in "historic thatch" is now a cause of concern.
Gallagher said: "Preliminary audit results from the Inishowen Municipal District show that 27% of the historic thatch properties in that area have been lost in the past 15 years and a further 10% of them are in a poor or very poor conditions.
"Sadly, this seems to be symptomatic of the decline in historic thatch throughout the county.
"A particular cause of concern is the replacement of historic thatch by some homeowners with slate when only repairs are required to save and conserve the historic thatch".
Donegal County Council has now relaunched its Thatch Repair Grant Scheme.
The scheme, which is its seventh year, supports owners and occupiers of historic thatched dwellings and businesses by funding "small-scale thatch repairs from €500 up to €3,000".
Gallagher said over the past six years it has supported over 130 thatch repair projects throughout the county,
“These grants have enabled people to keep these buildings in use or to bring them back into use, often providing accommodation for residents and visitors alike," he added.
According to Gallagher, homeowners should also bear in mind that permission is required from Donegal County Council to replace an historic thatched roof "as it constitutes a material alteration to the structure.”
The council is keen to highlight that there are a wide range of small-scale repairs that may be eligible for its grant scheme include repairs to eaves, the ridge, flashings around the chimney, holes, furrows, fixings, ropes, wire netting, the gable and the roof timbers or carpentry.
It has also detailed that all types of historic thatched properties are eligible under the Thatch Repair Grant Scheme, including those in residential use, in use as commercial premises or holiday homes, and even any that may be currently vacant.
Meanwhile the council is also promoting the opportunity to train as a thatcher at the Donegal Thatching School, based at the Dolmen Centre in Kilclooney in west Donegal, which only opened its doors last year.
But as Collette Beattie, architectural conservation officer with the council, has warned, acquiring these skills is not an overnight job.
“Thatching is a skilled trade and it takes approximately four years to train in this area so there is a real urgency for thatchers, and especially rope thatchers, in Donegal.
"Donegal County Council considers that the conservation of our traditional buildings constitutes appropriate, sustainable and responsible development.
"At present, there are over 20 thatched buildings on the Record of Protected Structures for County Donegal and many more are eligible for inclusion," Beattie added.
