Thatching
16th May 1938
Roofs and Thatching: Rope thatching - “teach buaile á dheisiú”.
1940, Achill Island, Co. Mayo
Photographer: Séamus Ó Duilearga
We have a thatched house at home. The rafters are put up first and they are joined together at the top. Then strong sticks are nailed to them. Latts are left over them too. Scraws cover the latts. Thatch is put over the scraws. Rye straw is the best for thatch. Hazel or sally rods are cut and made into scallaps. They are pointed at each end and they are driven into the thatch by means of a mallet. When the house is thatched to the top a handful of straw is got and the end of it turned down and tied. These are called bobbins. A scallap is put through them and they are tightened down like straw.
Correction
14th June 1938 A scallop is put through them and they are tightened down like straw.
“INFORMANT: James McIntyre, Age 60, Address, Knocksaxon, Co. Mayo”