With more than 300 thatched buildings in County Donegal alone, Donegal City Council has raised concerns about the rapid decline of these iconic structures. The number of skilled thatchers is also dwindling, threatening the future of this century-old craft.

To address this, a new thatching training centre has opened in Portnoo, County Donegal, offering free weekend courses funded by the Irish government. The school uses a variety of traditional materials like water reed, straw, and wheat reed, showcasing techniques from different parts of Ireland.

Fidelma Toland, a farmer and bar worker, is one of around 20 people who’ve signed up so far. Inspired by childhood memories of her grandfather and uncles maintaining their homes’ thatch, she’s determined to help keep the tradition alive. “It’s all dying away sadly, but this school is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to learn it and keep the tradition going,” she said.

The centre is co-founded by Conal Shovlin, who was born in a thatched house in 1950. He stressed the importance of training young people quickly in the many regional styles–from rope thatching in Donegal to flax thatching in Ulster.

Technical advisor John Masters said the school has seen strong interest, adding that their training roofs are designed to cover a range of styles. Master thatcher Brian Lafferty, whose skills were handed down from his father, said the course is in high demand and could help reverse the decline in thatched cottages. “You need to have a hunger to learn, we can’t just take everyone that is applying for it” he said.

Mary Rose Kern, who runs a coffee shop from her thatched cottage in Kilmacrennan, believes the charm of these homes still captivates. “There’s something really special about it,” she said.