The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has produced a strategy called 'A Living Tradition: a strategy to enhance the understanding, care and handing on of our built vernacular heritage', which is to be implemented over the next three years. 

As part of the strategy, we have also published a booklet, 'Caring for our Vernacular Heritage'.

Both publications emphasise the importance of gentle rehabilitation as the best way to treat our vernacular heritage. Vernacular buildings, which are the product of longstanding folk traditions and can be composed of a range of ‘soft’ materials, including mud, straw and wicker, are especially vulnerable to changes that can significantly affect them, unless handled very carefully.

The department hopes to organise events and cooperate with CPD offerings, as well as working on a technical document for the conservation of vernacular buildings.

The documents can be viewed at: www.buildingsofireland.ie/search-vernacular in PDF format. Hard copies are available from barry.o’reilly@housing.gov.ie on request.