CONSTRUCTION work on a new Thatching School, the first of its kind in Ireland, is to get underway as soon as possible at the Dolmen Centre in Portnoo.
The project, which is being developed by Dolmen Leisure Company LBG (Dolmen Leisure), will play an important role in the continuation of an art and craft that is a distinctive element of the vernacular architecture in Donegal and Ireland, namely Thatching.
Planning permission for the school was approved by Donegal County Council in mid-2022 and LEADER Funding of €175,359.17 was also secured and formally approved to the committee prior to Christmas 2022, through the Donegal Local Development Company and Donegal LCDC.
Local contractor Paddy Mc Hugh Building Contractors Ltd has been appointed and will now commence the construction work as soon as possible. The design and supervision of the build will be carried out by Cornerstone Architecture located locally in Ardara.
Dolmen Leisure would also like to take the opportunity to thank, Community Finance Ireland for providing the interim finance for the build. Barry Symes Head of Community Finance ROI says:
“The team at Dolmen are a fantastic example of visionary community spirit. We are delighted to be able to help finance this project and welcome the opportunities both of employment and future tourism that the project will bring to the area”.
The Committee believe that “the project has the potential to deliver unique employment opportunities in the area, to people who are looking for the opportunity to work for themselves in a rewarding role which offers unique job satisfaction. It is a field where presently no national facility is available, yet our market analysis, and offers of support shows the demand for this exists. The school will see training in Thatching delivered by professionally trained and Master Thatchers, who are also anxious to see their skills passed on and their dying trade imbued with new skilled staff.
“Although LEADER has been very generous in their funding to this project, this represents 75 per cent of the construction costs, so the work of the committee in raising funds will continue as the 25 per cent match funding required will hopefully be sourced through other funding and donations. All contributions will be greatly appreciated by the committee”.
One of the founding members of the Dolmen Centre, Conal Shovlin first mooted the idea for Portnoo some twenty years ago and although funding could not be sourced at that time, the committee felt that now was the opportune time to revisit this most worthy cultural heritage trait.
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