Thatch roofs: The roofs of fairytales

By Jenny Yu.  

Explore the whimsical world of William Cahill’s thatch roofs! 

There’s something fairytale-like about a roof made of straw or reeds. After Snow White flees from her evil stepmother, she escapes into a forest of friendly creatures who lead her to the seven dwarfs’ hidden woodland cottage: a humble, cozy home topped with a straw roof. As the first Disney feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the script for the storybook home, likely inspired by “old world,” European charm.  

This type of rustic roof made of straw or reeds, called “thatch roofs,” still invokes a sense of enchantment and whimsy today. 

One roofer, William Cahill of Galway, Ireland, has made it his mission to preserve the art of thatch roofs. After completing a five-year thatcher apprenticeship contributing to historic projects such as W.B. Yeat’s castle Thoor Ballylee, William left his native Ireland to complete custom thatch roofs across the United States.  

Here, for over 30 years, William has worked on prestigious projects, such as the Jamestown Church in the historic Jamestown Settlement in Virginia and the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel in Fountain City, Wisconsin. These works of careful preservation, ranging from English, Irish, African and Asian styles, have earned William plenty of warranted attention, including appearances in notable publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Martha Stewart Show. 

For the roof thatcher, however, the reward doesn't stem from outside acknowledgement, but from the process itself. “I get great satisfaction out of watching the evolution of a thatch roof from start to finish, and I feel that I work in harmony with nature,” William shares on his website, where he also names his parents as the inspiration to pursue the traditional craft.  

With technological advances like artificial intelligence and automation dominating global trends and conversations, it can be comforting and inspiring to see older, quieter marvels persevere through the slow, deliberate work of human hearts and hands. While we don’t live in a fairytale world, we can still appreciate the charms that hard work like William’s brings. 

Learn more about William Cahill and his thatch roof work!