Future of the thatched roof 'in danger' - Irish Architectural News

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Future of the thatched roof 'in danger'

Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2005 / November 11

Cottage, Co. Tyrone

The future of the thatched roof in Ireland is in danger, according to a report published yesterday. The report on the protection of thatched structures estimates that just 2,000 thatched roofs survive in the Republic. It also highlights the documented loss of almost 40,000 thatched roofs in Northern Ireland between the 1950s and recent years. There are now just 150 thatched roofs in Northern Ireland, it says. According to the Department of the Environment there are many reasons for the loss of thatched roofs. These include the loss of traditional skills and the fragmented nature of the thatching trade, as well as a widespread lack of knowledge of thatch materials and tools.

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