Concerns over how Donegal’s thatched building heritage is being increasingly lost

Concerns have been raised about the rate of loss of thatched properties across County Donegal.

There are over 300 known thatched buildings in Donegal, but that number is shrinking all the time.

Preliminary audit results indicate that 27 per cent of historic thatch properties in Donegal have been lost in the past 15 years, while a further 10 per cent of them are in poor or very poor condition.

Donegal County Council’s award-winning Thatch Repair Grant Scheme has now opened for applications to help preserve our thatched heritage.

The Thatch Repair Grant Scheme enables people to keep historic thatched houses, business premises and outbuildings in use or to bring them back into use. Many of these structures also provide accommodation for residents and visitors alike.

Now in its eighth year, the scheme assists the owners and occupiers of historic thatched dwellings and businesses with their maintenance and repair. The scheme allows for small-scale thatch repairs from €500 up to €3,000.

The Thatch Repair Grant Scheme is open for applications until 4pm on Wednesday, April 1, and is funded by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council.

“Over the past seven years, the scheme has supported over 150 thatch repair projects throughout the county,” explains Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.

“The Thatch Repair Grant Scheme allows us to support small-scale thatch repairs to historic thatch and, in particular, historic rope thatch. Rope thatching in County Donegal is the predominant traditional thatching method, especially in the west, northwest, and north of the county.”

Mr Gallagher added: “Furthermore, our experience suggests that the application of scollop thatching methods to rope thatched houses tends to fail due to the shallow pitch of rope-thatched roofs. Altering the pitch of thatched roofs can also destroy the roof carpentry and historic roof fabric, and make these structures ineligible to heritage grant schemes so prior engagement with Donegal County Council’s Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer is strongly advised.”

“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. Homeowners are reminded that permission is required from Donegal County Council to replace a historic thatched roof as it constitutes a material alteration to the structure.”

An increasing number of supports are being put in place to support thatch homeowners. The perceived obstacles to the conservation of historic thatch that once existed are being addressed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

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A new annual grant scheme under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme was introduced for the first time two years ago, and this is funding eight rethatch projects in County Donegal this year.

The Department has also issued a free booklet on ‘Fire Safety in Thatched Properties’ that provides advice to homeowners on reducing the fire risk in their properties and offers a free one-to-one on-site visit with an engineer on how to apply the published guidance to your property.

Discussions are also taking place at a national level with insurance companies to improve the availability of, and reduce the cost of, thatch insurance.

“In addition to the Thatch Repair Grant Scheme, Donegal County Council is working on a number of initiatives to support the thatch industry in the county, including support for the new Donegal Thatching School, a Rope Thatch Mentorship Scheme and an initiative in relation to the growing of thatching materials,” said Collette Beattie, DCC Architectural Conservation Officer.

“At present, there are over 20 thatched buildings on the Record of Protected Structures for County Donegal and many more are eligible for inclusion. The Thatch Repair Grant Scheme addresses several Council plans and strategies, including the new County Donegal Heritage Plan to ‘continue to conserve and promote our vernacular built heritage and associated traditional building skills’, as well as several policies in the Donegal County Development Plan to protect and conserve our traditional buildings.”

“Types of small-scale thatch repairs that might be eligible to Donegal County Council’s Thatch Repair Grant Scheme include repairs to the eaves, the ridge, flashings around the chimney, holes, furrows, fixings, ropes, wire netting, the gable and the roof timbers or carpentry. All types of historic thatched properties are eligible under our Thatch Repair Grant Scheme, whether they are in residential use, in use as commercial premises or holiday homes and even if they are vacant.”

Application forms for the Thatch Repair Grant Scheme are available online from the Donegal County Council website (www.donegalculture.ie/heritage) or by contacting Joseph Gallagher, Heritage Officer or Collette Beattie, Conservation Officer at (074) 915 3900 or by e-mail at thatch@donegalcoco.ie.

The Thatch Repair Grant Scheme is funded by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.