Donegal County Council has announced the first awardee of a rope thatch mentorship scheme, one of the first initiatives of its kind in Ireland.
Over the next six months, David McFerran will work alongside master rope thatcher Brian Lafferty learning about the use of thatch materials and the skills of rope thatching.
Donegal is one of the few counties where rope thatching is still practised. It is recognised as the predominant thatching method in the west and north of the county.
The pilot scheme aims to provide a training opportunity for a person who wishes to pursue a career in thatching in the north west.
Donegal County Council Conservation Officer Collette Beattie said they recognised the need for rope thatchers while administering the Thatch Repair Grant Scheme over the past seven years.
Donegal Heritage Officer Joseph Gallagher said their priority is "to stop the alarming rate of loss of historic rope thatch" in the county.
"Evidence shows that 27% of the historic thatch properties have been lost in the past 15 years and that a further 10% of them are in a poor or very poor condition."
He said a particular cause of concern is the replacement of historic thatch by some homeowners with slate.
"Homeowners are reminded that permission is required from Donegal County Council to replace an historic thatched roof as it constitutes a material alteration to the structure," Mr Gallagher said.
Mr Gallagher said the skill of the rope thatcher is usually seen in the attention to detail around the chimney, the gable, the eaves or the ridge of the roof.
"Our concern is that this indigenous method of Donegal rope thatching is being replaced by scollop thatching, non-traditional styles and even synthetic thatch, particularly in the west and north of the county."
"This iconic form of rope thatching and the craftsmanship of the rope thatcher are being erased from County Donegal's cultural landscape.
"We hope that initiatives such as the new Donegal Thatching School in Kilclooney and the new thatch training course being offered by Kilkenny & Carlow Education & Training Board and The Heritage Council will, in time, help to address this deficit."
The council’s heritage office is inviting rope thatchers who may have mentorship opportunities or those who are willing to undertake historic thatch repairs to contact them.
The Rope Thatch Mentorship Scheme was initiated by the Conservation Office and the Heritage Office of Donegal County Council with support from Creative Ireland, the National Built Heritage Service and the Heritage Council.
