A Fine Gael Senator from Donegal is warning that the unique Irish craft of thatching faces extinction unless significant investment is made in training programs.
Senator Manus Boyle highlighted the decline in inter-generational knowledge transfer and emphasized the need for Educational Training Courses (ETBs) to provide structured training. He argued that these courses are crucial for establishing a consistent supply of qualified artisans, including thatchers, to ensure the survival of these specialized crafts.
Donegal is known for having the largest concentration of thatched houses in Ireland, with Inishowen boasting the highest number of traditional thatch cottages within the county.
“The thatched house has become an iconic symbol of rural Ireland, but this traditional skill is critically endangered due to a severe shortage of thatchers to maintain and repair these buildings. Currently, there’s a one-year waiting list for most repair jobs,” he stated.
It’s estimated that there are only 15-20 trained thatchers in Ireland, with a mere two or three located in Donegal. Senator Boyle described this as an alarming statistic, given the approximately 2,000 thatched buildings requiring ongoing maintenance.
“Recognizing the critically endangered status of thatching, the Heritage Council initiated a thatching course this year in collaboration with the Kilkenny Carlow ETB,” he added. “The Donegal Thatching School has demonstrated the demand for an ETB course through the overwhelming number of applications for their weekend workshops. Therefore, I strongly advocate for the establishment of a thatching course within the Donegal ETB.”
Master thatcher Brian Lafferty (on roof) working on Kelly’s Cottage in Kerrykeel.
“Donegal is just one example of an area where there’s a high demand for this service but a lack of skilled professionals. The current geographical distribution of available courses is uneven. As we focus on building a robust construction workforce, accredited traditional skills courses should be offered by ETBs and third-level institutions alongside mainstream construction programs. Traditional craftspeople are vital to our construction sector and the overall preservation of buildings, both for housing and heritage purposes.”
Senator Boyle stressed the importance of developing plans to support other traditional tradespeople, such as stonemasons and blacksmiths, to ensure their continued existence.
“The Heritage Council provides opportunities for construction professionals to upskill, and the new National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Skills aims to train groups of apprentices while experienced instructors are still available to teach them.”
Donegal Senator calls on ETB to provide more thatching courses was last modified: June 16th, 2025 by
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