If you’re ready to take on the challenge, the first step is to see if the cottage is a listed building: in ROI consult the Record of Protected Structures and in NI the Northern Ireland Buildings Database (both available online). It’s important to check this to understand what planning and building control laws you will fall under. If the cottage is a protected structure, check what redevelopments are permitted before you buy – a chat with the planners in your local authority is definitely worth the call, they may suggest you file a request to clarify what will be permitted. In fact some renovation work may not be possible and you may be asked to follow certain guidelines, e.g. use vernacular materials, which will in all likelihood require enlisting the help of tradesmen specialised in this type of work. As part of the planning requirements a conservation architect will probably have to get on board. Their advice will be invaluable as will your local authority’s heritage officer, who should be able to assist you on this journey, providing a wealth of experience and information. Know that if you opt for an extension, current thinking has it to use contemporary materials and not try to copy the original style. The upside to the building being listed is that you may be exempt from certain building regulation requirements, e.g. those relating to energy use. By their very age and nature, old cottages will not meet the current standards and, if the building is not a protected structure, may need to face a major overhaul simply to meet the basic requirements. To thatch or not to thatch? While these vernacular roofs are absolutely beautiful to look at and can certainly tick the environmentally-friendly boxes, thatch does require regular maintenance – you need to keep an eye on its condition – a yearly inspection by your thatcher should ideally take place paying special attention to the ridge. For those concerned about fireproofing, for new builds a proprietary barrier can be inserted between the thatch and the timber framed roof. For old existing thatched roofs the best way to to help prevent fire would be to have an up-to-date electrical inspection cert (and MCB board) and if possible a flue lined chimney. The environmental credentials extend to the fact that thatch is thermally efficient – warm in winter and cool in summer – and, unlike conventional roofing systems that trap heat and moisture vapour in attics, thatch requires no attic ventilation. Overall, guessing what you might spend renovating a traditional Irish cottage is somewhere up there with the proverbial length of a piece of string. But, scouring the internet for renovations of all shapes and sizes, a general ballpark figure seems to be in and around the £1,000-€1,500 per sqm. While grants for listed buildings are available, these generally only apply to those in a state of structural disrepair. n Debbie Orme & Astrid Madsen Additional information Orla Fitzmaurice, www.cottageology.com www.SelfBuild.ie
between the covers
Straw, Hay & Rushes in Irish Folk Tradition To find out more about our vernacular heritage and how humble materials played a part in our everyday lives, look no further than this imprint penned by Anne O’Dowd, an academic who curated the National Museum of Ireland for 30 years. Like me, you may find yourself first drawn to the penultimate chapter, Building Work: shelters and homes. Even though it’s short, as a thatcher I found the text interesting, very factual and informing. While there is a general emphasis throughout the book on the range of materials produced from straw, hay and rushes, rather than on their use for construction purposes, you will find illuminating asides in other chapters too, e.g. straw used as an insulation material. In total, 12 of the 14 chapters deal with a miscellany of everyday and not so everyday items produced by the hands of skilled craft people. As the book was published by the Academic Press it is perhaps not surprising to find that referencing, cataloguing and the bibliography are given pride of place, and that each chapter is filled with enough information to fill a standalone book. I personally really enjoyed the folklore behind much of the items, be it the conversion of a pagan goddess into the cult of St Brigid as we know her today or the traditions associated with the ‘Last Sheaf’. Another aspect I liked was the inclusion of maker’s names. Being a Kilkenny man I was intrigued to find that in the 1940s two skilled Kilkenny brothers made a living by supplying potato baskets to farmers at harvest time. Within the chapters there are many fine photographs with some real gems including that of a man dressed in a straw cape (Fig. 10.1) but it would have been nice to see more objects in context or use. All in all, this book is a fantastic addition to the small but important collection of literature dealing with Irish vernacular traditions. It’s part of what we are, and where we came from.
irish cottages
Your cottage renovation
Anne O’Dowd, 560 pages, hardback, colour and B&W images, ISBN 9780716533108, Irish Academic Press, www.iap.ie, €45 Jimmy Lenehan Master thatcher
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