A drive to list buildings is changing the face of rural Ireland. Local government officers have been combing the country in a bid to preserve properties of national interest and top of the list are thatched cottages. The quintessential Irish symbol was home to countless generations before it ended up a badge of poverty, darkly alluded to as a breeding ground for TB.

Now the traditional house, with its tiny windows, loft bed and wattled ceiling work, is officially back in vogue.

Preservation work began when the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht decided to undertake an inventory of worthy buildings throughout the country.

In Co Limerick during the last year and a half, over 1,000 properties, 227 of them thatched cottages, have been listed by the local council. With the exception of Wexford, Limerick has the highest proportion of thatched cottages in the country.

Initially, a photographic survey was carried out. According to Limerick County Council assistant planner, Auriol Considine, 5,000 structures were included and the photos formed a database of prospective buildings.

This was then whittled down to over a 1,000 and owners were notified that their properties would be listed.

Anxious that it go ahead as smoothly as possible, the council engaged in a consultation process, drawing up information packs and personally meeting owners.

Despite the kudos involved in owning a listed building, many people, especially those in business, worried that it might hinder their home's alteration or expansion plans. When Gerry and Mary Ryan received a letter saying their 250-year-old thatched pub, O'Neill's, in Boher, Co Limerick, was scheduled for preservation, they worried that it might prove an obstacle to renovation work.

"We were planning on putting in new windows, and thought that there might be restrictions, but then the council provided a grant for old-style window frames," said Gerry.

The couple had three months to object to the listing and when they decided not to, it went ahead automatically.

"Initially, we were worried. The original building is small and we were afraid that with the listing we wouldn't be able to build an extension. But the county council explained that it wouldn't be a problem so long as we used a style that fitted in with the house," said Gerry. The east Limerick pub is a favourite of Larry Hagman, better known as J R Ewing in Dallas.

According to Ms Considine, alterations to buildings with preservation orders require planning permission, but despite this, the council has had an 85 per cent success rate so far in owner compliance with listing work.

"People have had some concerns but in general, these disappeared once the concept was properly explained. Out of the 1,027 buildings to be listed, there were only 27 queries and 16 objections and 11 of these have already been rescinded." She explained that the county council has no power to force owners to comply with listing.

To the south of the city, the picturesque village of Adare is a regular stop-off for tourists, it is comprised almost entirely of thatched cottages. These, like the manor overshadowing the village, were once owned by the Earl of Dunraven and have passed into private ownership.

A jewel in the national heritage crown and a priceless tourist attraction, no chances were taken and the entire village was listed. Now a Heritage Town, a plan tailor-made to preserve the village is being drafted.