Fingal Thatch Project 2022 Report Launched

Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the launch of the report on the Fingal Thatch Project 2022, prepared by Carrig Conservation International on behalf of Fingal Heritage Office. The launch, by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony took place on February 16th in the Casino Malahide, a beautifully restored thatched building which is of significant historical importance to Fingal’s architectural heritage.  

Fingal’s thatched buildings are a physical connection between past and present-day generations and represent a vernacular tradition in which knowledge of building techniques, local materials, skills and craftmanship was passed down along an unbroken chain for centuries.

As is the case across Ireland, Fingal’s thatched buildings have been in decline since at least the 1950s. The Fingal Thatch Project not only documents the County’s surviving thatched building stock but has engaged with the community and custodians of thatched buildings, to better understand the issues that contribute to the loss.

Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker, County Architect Fionnuala May, Fingal Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly with  Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony, Architectural Conservation Officer Helena Bergin and Barry O'Reilly

‘An important element of this project is capturing the social history of thatch in Fingal’ said Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Howard Mahony ‘Thatch owners and thatcher’s themselves have contributed photos, and memories and traditions that have been recorded on a digital storymap for future generations’.

‘Findings from the project, which are presented in the survey undertaken add to the wider understanding of thatch in Ireland today’ said Fingal Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly ‘So that positive actions, like those of the Fingal Conservation Office’s Stitch in Time grants, can be implemented to safeguard this finite cultural resource’.

‘Thank you to all who have contributed to the project - owners, thatcher’s, and members of the communities who have shared their memories and photos’ said Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker ‘Also thank you to members of the project steering group, Carrig Conservation consultants and the Heritage Council, for their input and support’.

The report, gazetteer, storymap, videos are available to download and view at https://www.fingal.ie/fingal-thatch-project-and-report This project was supported by the Heritage Council and fulfils objectives of the  Fingal Heritage Plan 2018-2023

Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker, Peter Cox Managing Director at Carrig Conservation International with  Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony, Editor Leila Budd and Sinead Hughes Report Writer