Sir, – Here in Ireland, we need to very carefully mind the few hundred remaining mud-walled thatch cottages that we have left, as climate change is hitting them hardest of all.
You see, long dry and very hot spells can cause thatch (especially older thatch) to shrink. Then, the very strong winds and the downpouring rain that we are experiencing in recent months can loosen the shrunken thatch and expose the walls of the cottage to water seeping through. The seeping water drips down to the top of the mud walls and, very quickly, those walls that have held up the house for centuries are gone.
Stone-walled thatched cottages will stand up better to the effects of climate change... for the simple reason that the stones in the walls cannot easily be washed away by a mere leaking roof.
It’s the mud-walled cottages that need urgent attention, otherwise these wonderful heritage survivors will disappear on our watch. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT HAYES-McCOY,
Co Wexford.