‘Mud Matters’, a two-day workshop on the use of mud/earth in building will be hosted by Dúchas na Sionna at Hastings farmhouse, Shannon, Co. Clare, today (Saturday, October 26) and tomorrow (Sunday, October 27) and November 16 and 17.

Dúchas na Sionna, the local heritage group, is offering the experiential two-day workshop on the use of mud - earth - as a building material for restoration, conservation and traditional building, together with the use of clay renders, clay-lime mixes, hot lime stabilising elements for external and internal breathable finishes.

From excavation and selection to finishing, there will be an opportunity to experience the traditional lost art of a technique that is not only simple but is also free of charge and doesn't have an environmental impact.

The event will be of interest to conservation professionals, building owners, administrators, ecological builders, assigned certifiers and those proposing environmental self-build projects.

It will be accessible to those who don't know anything about mud and lime and who would like to embark on an adventure of discovery.

The speakers and demonstrators will be: Eoin Madigan, a sixth generation mason and specialist in mud construction, director of Madigan Historic Masonry; Damien Condon, Calyx Renders, a fifth-generation plasterer; Chris Southgate, director of Southgate Associates, a conservation engineer with 34 years experience; Colm Murray, architect and expert in conservation and John O' Brien, Dúchas na Sionna, the host organisation which aims to restore the Hasting's farmhouse at Shannon.

The farmhouse is the remains of a typical 19th century vernacular farmhouse located in Tullyvarraga townland within the modern town of Shannon.

Situated at the estuary end of the original routeway into Tullyvarraga, now known as the Sli na Mara boreen, today the structure is situated between the crematorium and Illaunmanagh cemetery.

The house which is shown on the first edition Ordinance Survey of 1840, was inhabited by the Hastings family until the early 1970s and was a safe house during the War of Independence.

Shortly after it became empty, it was vandalised and its thatched roof set on fire. It then collapsed in on itself and over 40 years vegetation grew up around what remained and the building and its fascinating history were in danger of being totally forgotten.

In 2012, Dúchas na Sionna undertook to conserve what remained of Hastings farmhouse. As the farmhouse is in the ownership of Clare County Council, the group applied to have the remains declared a protected structure.

This was done and a volunteer day in February 2012 began to uncover what remained of the building.

With funds raised from local businesses, a flag day and a grant from the Leader fund administered by Clare Local Development Company, a conservation specialist was engaged to consolidate the walls.

It was discovered that the house was partly constructed of cob - a mixture of clay and a binding material such as straw - an unusual building material for this part of Co. Clare where stone is more commonly used.

Dúchas na Sionna is embarking on an ambitious project to fully restore the farmhouse for use as a heritage and education centre to provide training in traditional building and craft techniques.

The cost of the two-day course is €300 payable in advance by electronic funds transfer (EFT.) For booking and payment details, contact Olive Carey, Dúchas na Sionna [email protected], phone 085 710 7581.