https://www.donegaldaily.com/2025/05/05/doagh-famine-village-online-fundraisers-may-be-scams-1/

https://youtu.be/Ir6mc-djWFo

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/bronze-age-roundhouse-recreated-by-military-veterans-unveiled-40934271.html

Visit the Buster Ancient Farm website

All the old thatched houses had earthen floors, some of them more uneven than others. I asked one old lady why a particular kitchen floor had a rise in the centre and she said it was caused by feeding the hens inside. She explained that the reason for this practice was because if they were fed outside the neighbours' hens would help themselves to the food! {green}:laugh:  

It was from Observations by Jack Fitzsimons. 

Visit the website to read more.

Traditional Irish houses are generally rectangular in layout. This design requires simple roofing formats, either gable-roofs or hip-roofs. The gable-roof has two surfaces, front and back, whereas the hip-roof has four roof surfaces, which include the slopes at either end; these styles tended to vary from region to region.

In past times, the general roof covering of choice and economic necessity has been the thatched roof. Reasons for this probably relate to the fact that the organic matter of a thatched roof tended to be available locally and at much less expense than solid roofing materials.

You can read more by visiting the page on the Ask About Ireland dot ie website. The page contains interesting info and images covering roof thatching in Ireland.

{green}:hi:

by Seamus Heaney

Bespoke for weeks, he turned up some morning
Unexpectedly, his bicycle slung
With a light ladder and a bag of knives.
He eyed the old rigging, poked at the eaves,

Opened and handled sheaves of lashed wheat-straw.
Next, the bundled rods: hazel and willow
Were flicked for weight, twisted in case they'd snap.
It seemed he spent the morning warming up:

Then fixed the ladder, laid out well honed blades
And snipped at straw and sharpened ends of rods
That, bent in two, made a white-pronged staple
For pinning down his world, handful by handful.

Couchant for days on sods above the rafters,
He shaved and flushed the butts, stitched all together
Into a sloped honeycomb, a stubble patch,
And left them gaping at his Midas touch.

{green}:pray:

 Listen to a tune from TheSession.org website called The Roof Thatcher's Daughter (Mazurka) played by ceolachan (an alias).

.AKA 'The Roof Thatcher’s' and 'Roof Thatcher's Daughter'.

https://thesession.org/tunes/6356

Something to listen to while you are peeling the spuds. {blue}:love:  

What do you think, Nacho?

Most of us know the old proverb “an Englishman's home is his castle”. Well your garden, if you have one, must certainly qualify as a refuge, and an escape, especially in this modern, hectic society.

Gardens are great

Of course they are. They're absolutely perfect. Take a quiet stroll. Play with the family. The dog. Relax in on an evening, with a tipple or three as company. Now well imbibed and relaxed, you cast glances here and there, serenely surveying, whilst planning the next project, the next shrub or flowerbed, you at home, in your little paradise. But something is missing....

Add Some Thatch

We could all find a spot to set a beautiful thatched dovecote. You don't even need to add doves. The dovecoat could contain your secret garden stash, or a wildlife camera to capture the local foxes snooping about. A dovecote with a thatched roof would certainly sit well in most gardens. A beautiful structure to behold. Many an evening could be idled away admiring your beautiful thatch.

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes so you have to make the right decision on what type of thatched structure your garden could accommodate. Your choices could range from a thatched barn all the way down to a thatched bird box. You could enhance your apartment patio with a delightful thatched bird box to encourage a pair of local birds to settle down and make a home. Or install a thatched gazebo for your family and your friends to rest, dine and socialise within. A thatched barn. Well. Into the mind flows a plethora of reasons to have a thatched barn, and its potential uses. The list could be endless. A brewery. A gym. An art studio. A photography studio. A homeschool? 

The use does not matter. As long as it is there to look at from the patio in the evening, life will be good. 

All Power to You.

We all grow older, get slower, then bits and pieces start wearing out. Everything ages. It is part of life. Some of us wear out faster than others do. A thatched roof is no different. Each and every thatched roof is as unique as every person. It has its own strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and character. 

Over time a thatched roof will start to look tired and worn. It will become far more rustic, which is not a bad thing in itself,  and will be calling out for a dose of tender loving care. A few repairs and preventative maintenance will extend the longevity of your thatched roof.

Get Expert Advice

Get expert advice - This is most important. The wrong advice could be costly, and have a negative impact on the integrity of your thatched roof.

• Make a record of current condition - Take photos, or a video, and a few notes, recording as much detail of the roof, inside and out, if possible. Attempt to identify the materials and the techniques/methods used.
• Figure out what has gone wrong, if anything - Is it a failure, or wear and tear? Try to discover the reason your roof needs repairing. It could be bird damage, rodents, storm damage, or a drone collision. Maybe, just maybe, it has worn with the passing of time.

• Only fix what is needed - It can be tempting, then expensive, to try to go the extra mile. If your roof is very old it is better to just do enough to keep it functional. This will extend its life. It may not always look the prettiest. It will keep the water out.
• Use the correct methods and materials - Backed by the advice from your expert you now must ensure the corrrect materials and methods are used to carry out the repairs. It is not always possible to source either the right materials, or the right skills, so you then become a victim of circumstance  and are at the mercy of supply and demand, these changing times. 
• Document the repairs and maintenance - Add this to the details already recorded. Keeping a record of the works will be appreciated by many, including future tenants, the next thatcher, and heritage groups.

Just do the best you can

As stated earlier, it is not always possible to find the right people, materials, skills and advice. You will, at times, struggle to get the right help. Just do the best you can. If your house is listed life can be a little more complicated so do get, and keep, you local Heritage Officer on your side.

Good Luck.