Gola Summer School / Scoil Samhraidh Ghabhla

Traditional Building Skills Summer School,

Gola Island, Co. Donegal, 11-13 June, 2010

Oileán Ghabhla, Co. Dhún na nGall 

11-13 Meitheamh, 2010 

The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society is putting a call out for all builders interested in a working holiday on Gola Island, just off the north west coast of Donegal.

UAHS is running a Skills School in partnership with Donegal County Council, thanks to funding from it and the DoEHLG Environment Fund.  15 participants, more used to constructing new buildings, will get a taster of the materials and skills used in the restoration of traditional buildings by working on a typical vernacular building on Gola. Many families left the island in the 1960s, and a wealth of traditional buildings desperately requiring attention, and bursting with potential, remains on Gola and across the country.

Valuable hands-on experience will reveal why it is so important to use lime instead of cement to point and render traditional buildings.  Those taking part will also find out how to: dismantle and rebuild fragile chimneys; re-slate a roof using natural slates; repair and renew timber sliding sash windows; and apply the very latest technology in double-glazing to upgrade existing windows. Participants will also be able to ask the on site conservation experts about any other challenges they might encounter during a restoration project.

The School depends on learning from best practice in conservation expertise and UAHS is delighted to be able to avail of the skills of Sean Brogan, a Donegal based contractor experienced in working with traditional buildings, and Chris McCollum, a conservation accredited building surveyor.

UAHS hopes this weekend event will spark off other project-based skills training and restoration schemes to unlock the potential of these special buildings. The School costs €60 and priority will be given to builders in the Gweedore area, who are interested in learning more about traditional skills.

Gach eolas le fáil: Rita Harkin, ag UAHS, tel +44 2890 550213 or info@uahs.org.uk 

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