just a further note on thatching . All the houses that are thatched in Ireland have Preservation orders on them - so that the owner cannot replace a thatched roof with eg a more conventional roof . This is not a problem in one way - as they give fantstic insulation - but cost wise it is a dear roof . A house about 2-2.5 times size of house in next foto - was re-roofed seven years ago - and it cost €30,000 to re-roof it then .The grant cut that to approx €20,000. now with cutbacks there are questionmarks over the grants . There are many hundreds of thathched houses in Wexford alone - many are in coastal araeas for some reason - where houses were also traditionally whitewashed - originally from getting lime from burning fish shells - and thus making the material for the whitewash .
Thatching is an ancient art by which houses are roofed . Very popular in Wexford - as being a Tillage agricutural county - plenty of straw was available . Still practised today - gives very good insuation etc - and is quite expensive . Thatched roof normally lasts for 10-12 years .
