Heart to Hearth

In this episode, we chat with Christiaan Corlett. Chris is a historian, writer, and archaeologist with the National Monuments Service. He has written numerous books on a variety of subjects, including medieval settlements, 18th century headstones, and the traditional farmhouses of Co. Wicklow.

In today’s chat, we covered Chris’s background in archaeology and how he became interested in vernacular buildings. The episode includes a call to arms, for people around the country to get involved and start recording the vernacular buildings in their area!  

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!  

Chris’s Website https://www.christiaancorlett.com/  

National Folklore Collection https://www.duchas.ie/en/info/cbe  

In this episode, we chat with Sinead Hughes. Sinead is a heritage consultant based in Dublin. Among various other projects, she is currently undertaking a thatch survey of Fingal County.  

In today's chat,  we talk about Sinead's background, her ongoing thatch survey in Fingal, and the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in Ireland today.  

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in August 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!  

Fingal Thatch Survey https://www.fingal.ie/news/fingal-thatch-project-2022  

Valentine Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000033871

Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414  

Historic Census Records http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/  

National Folklore Commission https://www.ucd.ie/irishfolklore/en/  

In this episode, we chat with PJ McClay. PJ  runs the popular IG page @oulhouse, which documents his experience as he renovates and brings back into use a derelict thatched cottage in Donegal.  

In today's chat,  we cover everything from how PJ discovered his interest in vernacular buildings, his experience of conserving and renovating his own cottage, and the challenges and opportunities of conservation of Irish vernacular buildings.  

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in August 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!  

PJ's instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/oulhouse/  

Con’s cottage Glengad https://www.conscottage.ie/    

**Apologies for the sound quality in this episode **

In this episode, we chat with Feile Butler. Feile is an architect who works in the conservation of vernacular buildings, as well as specialising in natural building materials, particuarly earth and mud wall buildings.  

In today's epsiode, we had a lovely chat about the beauty and simplicity of mud and stone vernacular buildings, and how they are inextricably linked to us and the landscape around us.  

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!  

Feile’s website www.rootsarchitecture.ie

Earth Building UK and Ireland www.EBUKI.co  

Book: Cobber’s handbook https://www.amazon.com/Cobbers-Companion-Build-Your-Earthen/dp/0966373804  

In this episode, we chat with Feidhlim Harty. Feidhlim is an environmental consultant based in County Clare.  

In today's chat, we look at some sustainable solutions for treating waste water from rural domestic buildings, and chat about Feidhlim’s own experiences renovating a rural vernacular cottage. This episode will be of interest to anyone who is hoping to renovate a vernacular building that doesn’t currently have any services.

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!  

Feidhlim’s website https://www.wetlandsystems.ie/  

EPA Code of Practice https://www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/waste-water/2021_CodeofPractice_Web.pdf  

Midwest Lime https://midwestlime.com/  

Native Irish Wildflower Seeds www.wildflowers.ie  

*Our apologies for the delay in releasing the rest of Series 2, we had unforeseen issues with getting the episodes produced and released - but we hope you enjoy this and the remainder of series 2 which will be released shortly*

In this episode, we chat with Sara Leach. Sara is a thatcher, currently doing an apprenticeship in County Wexford.  

In today's chat,  we cover everything from how Sara became interested in thatch to her experience with her apprenticeship, the importance of traditional building craft skills, and the future of thatch buildings in Ireland.  

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in August 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!

You can contact Sara at [email protected]

HelpX https://www.helpx.net/  

Workaway https://www.workaway.info/

ITSI https://itsi-ireland.com/  

Shell Cottage https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/15704615/cliff-cottage-cullenstown-bar-by-wexford    

In our fist episode of season 2, we chat with Ken Curran. Ken is a conservation mason, drystone waller and archaeologist, who operates his company EarthStone, and is also the chair of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Ireland.

In today's chat,  we cover everything from how Ken’s initial interest in Irish Vernacular heritage developed, the art and biodiversity of dry stone walling, the importance of recognition of the intangible heritage, and how Ken invests his time in the conservation of his own vernacular cottage.

Hosted by Tríona Byrne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Capacity Fund 2022.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in July 2022.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!

Book: Field boundaries of Europe https://www.nhbs.com/europes-field-boundaries-2-volume-set-book

Féile na gCloch: stone festival on Inis Oírr in September every year

DSWAI: dswai.ie

Earth stone: earthstone.ie

In our tenth and final episode of the series, we chat with Lisa Edden of Cora Consulting Engineers.

Lisa has over 30 years post graduate experience in designing solutions for the stabilisation and restoration of buildings grand and vernacular, particularly historic masonry and timber structures. She has a thorough understanding of building and repair processes and the materials involved.

In today's chat, Lisa takes us through her fascinating journey from her childhood growing up next to the Weald and Downland  Living Museum  in West Sussex,  structural engineering in the UK with Alan Baxter  her move to Ireland  (via an extended stay in Africa learning about rammed earth buildings in Timbuktu, Mali), her experience of working with rammed earth buildings and earth mortars, and her own journey in the conservation of her vernacular cottage in Ballyknockan, Co. Wicklow with much more in between.

Hosted by Tríona Byrne and Róisín Beirne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Sector Support Fund 2021.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in July 2021.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!

https://cora.ie/

https://www.buildinglimesforumireland.com/

**Apologies for the sound quality in this episode **

In our eight episode, we chat with Duncan McLaren of Dedalus Architecture.

Dedalus is an RIAI accredited Grade 1 conservation practice providing architectural, conservation and heritage research services to government agencies, local authorities, corporate bodies, private developers and community groups.  The business is based in Moville, Inishowen, Co. Donegal and provides general architectural services to the local market and specialist services throughout Ireland.

Specialist services include work with existing and historic buildings, conservation planning, repair and adaptive reuse. Consultancy services include research, writing for publication and policy development. The business was established, by managing director Duncan McLaren, in 2001 after more than 15 years of distinguished work in employment in London and Dublin.  

In today's chat, we discuss Duncan's journey in conservation and vernacular buildings, his passion for thatch, and we also discover an interesting connection to Brian Friel through his work.

Hosted by Tríona Byrne and Róisín Beirne.

Edited by Deirdre Keeley.

Artwork by Róisín Beirne.

Theme music by Cillian Byrne.

Generously supported by the Heritage Council as part of their Heritage Sector Support Fund 2021.

The podcast was recorded on Zoom in July 2021.

If you have a question or feedback on the series, we’d love to hear from you so please get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]. For more information on SPAB Ireland visit www.spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland.

You can follow our social media @SPABIreland on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spabireland, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/spabireland and Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPABIreland and you can also check our website https://www.spab.org.uk/members/regional-groups/spab-ireland.

Subscribe, enjoy and please leave a review!

http://dedalusarchitecture.com/=