The Irish Landmark Trust was awarded a grant from IGS of €5,000 under the 2015 Conservation Grants Scheme, towards the cost of re-thatching The Mall, an important property located just outside Mitchelstown in County Cork.  The Mall is a good example of the vernacular farm cottage once typical of the South of Ireland but now disappearing.  Once one of three thatched dwellings facing the road now only two remain, with The Mall the only dwelling still to retain its thatched roof.  Originally a two roomed labourers cottage with a loft, it was later extended as the house became linked to a small farm although internally it has altered little since its construction in the early 19th century.
 
The grant awarded by IGS was extremely important as it allowed Irish Landmark the leverage to apply for additional funding from Cork County Council to help with the cost of re-thatching.  Without the IGS grant, it would not have been possible for Irish Landmark to apply to the county council.  When re-thatching began in June, the condition of the existing thatch was found to be so poor that it was unlikely the thatch would have lasted much longer.  It was brittle and mostly rotten with a build-up of layer upon layer of thatch as no stripping back had taken place. Irish Landmark is, therefore, once again extremely grateful to the Irish Georgian Society for their very timely grant award and their continuing support of conservation work.

(Words and images: Caroline Crowley, Irish Landmark Trust)