Atlantic Technological University will host a free public seminar on the skills needs of the traditional building sector in Ireland at its Galway city campus next month. The seminar, on Friday, June 3, will be followed on June 4 with a demonstration of traditional skills at the Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna.
Funded by the Heritage Council and hosted by the Department of Heritage and Tourism, Galway International Hotel School, the seminar will involve a panel discussion between representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB Ireland ), education providers, and representatives of the traditional skills sector.
It will focus on the recently published report, A Living Tradition: A Strategy to Enhance the Understanding, Minding and Handing on of Our Built Vernacular Heritage, prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which sets out actions to ensure vernacular skills are sustainable within the next generation, and calls for the involvement of individuals and bodies to analyse the current state and future needs of sector, through public events involving stakeholders.
“This is a great opportunity to hear the views of the public and especially those working in the sector, to inform future needs, training, and sustainability plans in traditional building,” said event organiser Gary Dempsey, heritage lecturer in the Department of Heritage and Tourism, ATU Galway International Hotel School.
“The workshop on Saturday is for individuals who wish to upskill or learn more about traditional buildings skills. It will include a practical workshop on traditional lime mortars with Mathieu & Mitchell Ltd, an introduction to and mixing of traditional lime mortars, followed by practical demonstration of lime plastering and pointing using natural hydraulic mortars.”
These events are funded by the Heritage Council through the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2022. Booking is through Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.ie/e/traditional-skills-building-a-sustainable-sector-
