Traditional bundles of straw in a field on the Mullet Peninsula in Co. Mayo.
There was a very interesting interview with a thatcher in Mayo in the Sunday Times.
Turkish reed or Polish straw, delivered promptly, is best every time. I have found price to be better, too. Clients, given the choice of local reed or imported, which lasts up to five times longer, generally opt for the latter. The customer is the one spending the money and the basic grant doesn’t even cover the cost of materials.
I’ve occasionally seen bundles of reeds taken from the Shannon (near Bunratty Castle) – not sure if they are intended for baskets or for thatching.
