Red List Comment Submission

Commenting on: Irish Vernacular Thatching

Section one - About you

Section two - Description of the craft

If you are commenting on an existing craft, please select it here and skip the next two questions

Please enter the name of the craft you would like us to add here.

If this is a new craft type please select the most suitable category

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify country, region, county or town

Please identify an era/century/approximate historic period.

Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. For more information on definitions see http://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist/categories-of-risk/

Section three - Current numbers of those practising the craft in the UK

People earning their main craft income from this craft (selling, commissions, conservation/ restoration and/or teaching).

People practicing this craft commercially (selling, commissions, conservation/restoration and/or teaching) but as less than half of their income.

People acquiring skills in order to become a professional in this craft, they probably have to work under supervision even if they are earning money while training.

People whose knowledge and ability is at a level of the most skilled practitioners of this craft.

People who do not intend to practice this craft professionally or at the highest level.

Section four - Issues affecting the viability of the craft

Existing content:
  • Training and recruitment issues: Training opportunities are limited, and there is little formal apprenticeship support. Efforts are under way to extend this skills base.
  • Market issues: Thatch in Northern Ireland has declined alarmingly over the century but this decline was partly halted from the late 1970s by protection from listing and grant aid from government (now the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities).  There are currently just under 150 buildings with an exposed thatched roof in this region. In recent years the grant aid available to support repairs has also declined, increasing difficulties for owners. In the Republic, there have also been declines. However, a grant for the repair of the thatched roofs of habitually occupied houses has been in place since 1990, and since 2023, significant further grant aid has been available for all thatched buildings. A recent survey establish the extent of survival of thatch in the Republic.
  • Market Issues. The generally small size of vernacular buildings has led to large numbers of replacements in Northern Ireland since the 1970s. Thatch buildings are not immune to this trend and largely only those protected as listed buildings remain. Costs to rethatch are significant relative to the resale value of such small buildings and the need to do this relatively regularly in a damp and exposed climate makes it difficult to sustain the roofs without government grant assistance. In the Republic there have been similar issues.
  • Loss of skills: There are very few experienced thatchers and the number is dwindling, as fewer young people are entering the trade.
  • Supply of raw materials, allied materials and tools: Good-quality thatching materials are becoming difficult to source. Traditional thatching materials such as long-stem wheat and oat straw are harder to source due to changes in modern farming practices. The widespread use of high-yield, short-stem grain varieties makes it difficult to produce the long, durable straw needed for thatching. Imports of alternative materials like water reed can be costly and sometimes unsuitable for Irish thatching styles.
  • Weather and Climate Challenges: Ireland’s wet climate leads to faster decay of thatch compared to drier regions, increasing the need for frequent repairs. Storms and heavy rainfall can damage thatched roofs, especially if proper maintenance is not carried out.
  • Planning and Conservation Issues: Many traditional thatched buildings are protected under heritage laws, making alterations or repairs subject to regulation. Extra regulation can sometimes be off-putting for prospective owners.
  • Other issues: Insurance costs for thatched buildings can be high due to perceived fire risks, making it expensive for homeowners.

e.g. lack of qualifications, funding for training etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. lack of demand for products/skills etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

Tick the box if there are difficulties with the supply of raw materials, allied materials or tools

If yes, please describe the issues below

i.e. issues around running any small business, not just crafts

If yes, please describe the issues below

Is the main workforce made up of people who are approaching retirement age?

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. legal restrictions on materials, health and safety etc.

If yes, please describe the issues below

e.g. Brexit, Covid-19, conflict

If yes, please describe the issues below

Please describe any other issues

Section five - Current Initiatives to preserve craft skills

Please describe any UK projects or schemes

Section six - Main players in the craft – please tell us who you know about

Please list any known practitioners of this craft — add a row item for each person or business and complete the fields to the best of your knowledge. To get started click the `Add practitioner` button below.

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Add practitioner

Section seven - Optional additional information

It may include when and where the craft developed, how it has changed over time, etc.

e.g. festivals, religious celebrations, agricultural practices, music, dance etc.

e.g. religious, ethnic, social class. Please give an overview of the techniques involved in the craft.

This may involve different materials, techniques, styles or finished products.

e.g. books, websites etc.