Historic thatched farmstead in County Wexford set for further restoration

A 300-year-old thatched farmhouse in County Wexford that only recently underwent "one of the most significant conservation projects" in modern Irish history is set to undergo further restoration work.

The Heritage Council of Ireland has asked the Wexford County Council to hire contractors to help repair the historic Mayglass Farmstead after the property suffered recent damage.

According to local outlet Wexford People, engineer Michael Brazzill told a January meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District that the Heritage Council was finding it difficult to find contractors to "put tarpaulins over the farmstead".

Brazzill added that it was important to "safeguard" the building for future generations, stating that Wexford County Council needs to ensure its continued maintenance in the future.

"We don’t want to lose an important structure like that," Brazzill told the meeting.

However, Wexford Councilor Ger Carthy questioned whether the Heritage Council of Ireland should be tasking Wexford County Council with renovating the farmhouse.

Carthy recognized the importance of protecting the building but said the Heritage Council should be responsible for it.

"Do we not have enough work of our own? I do recall there was massive money spent on that building, and now there’s a tarpaulin going over it.

"We have a lot of work to be getting through. It isn’t the job of the Rosslare Municipal District’s road department to be sub-contracting the Heritage Council. We’re spending our time facilitating a government department that’s awash with money. How much did we spend on behalf of the department, have we claimed it back?"

Brazzill responded the renovation work was minimal and that costs were likely to be low, adding that the Heritage Council was supplying the tarpaulin for the project.

"It is small money, but it is important to stop that building from collapsing," Brazzill told the meeting.

Councilor Jim Moore, Chairman of the Rosslare Municipal District, stated that he is "very disappointed" that the historic farmhouse has fallen into disrepair again, adding that the council needs to ensure it maintains its stock of thatched houses.

"The heritage value of our thatched houses is a hugely important part of what’s on offer in the area," Moore told the meeting.

Restored in 2001, the Mayglass Farmstead is considered by the Heritage Council to be "one of the most important vernacular farmsteads in the country".

The thatched building is a rare survivor of a type of two-storied thatched rural dwelling of the Irish vernacular tradition.

The Heritage Council says the dwelling was built in phases, starting in the early 1700s and ending in the late 1800s, adding that it has remained largely untouched ever since, save for its extensive refurbishment.