Concerns raised about the future of thatched homes and buildings in County Donegal.
Donegal has one of the highest concentrations of historic thatched homes in the country. They are part of the landscape and heritage handed down from generation to generation. Some buildings, such as Kathleen Wilson's thatched cottage, date back to the 18th century.
Master thatcher Brian Lafferty notices that a unique coastal style is disappearing. He would like somebody to recognise the beauty and value of thatch and to keep it going.
In 2019, Donegal County Council launched a Thatch Repair Grant Scheme to help owners with some of the high cost of maintenance. Conservation Officer with Donegal County Council, Colette Beattie, is concerned by the number of thatched homes lost annually. If left vacant, these buildings quickly go into decline.
They are very vulnerable and need people to live in them.
However, she is hopeful that the council grant scheme will help them do that.
Owners are facing other serious difficulties, including a lack of materials, thatchers, and prohibitively high insurance costs. Donegal County Council Heritage Officer Joseph Gallagher notes,
The lack of availability of thatch insurance and the affordability of thatch insurance is another limiting factor in terms of people living under thatch.
The Cunningham family own a thatched cottage in southwest Donegal which has been in the family for generations. Michael Cunningham believes such buildings are as much a part of Donegal heritage as Sliabh Liag and the Glencolumbcille Folk Village. He said that the government needs to step in to preserve buildings and keep people living in them.
Once they go, they're gone, and there’s no coming back.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 14 March 2021. The reporter is Eileen Magnier.
