Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
•   Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information Estimating sises, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
•   Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Working Life

Stone and brick restorers and cleaners use a variety of different methods to remove layers of dirt and grime from the exterior walls of buildings. They may wash the stonework with substances such as acid or they can spray the surface with very strong jets of steam or water. They may also use high-tech laser cleaning equipment, particularly in conservation projects.  
 
They point and seal damaged brick or stonework using mortar or other fillings. They may insert wire to strengthen the stonework.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Lay out wall patterns or foundations, using straight edge, rule, or staked lines.
• Shape, trim, face and cut marble or stone preparatory to setting, using power saws, cutting equipment, and hand tools.
• Set vertical and horisontal alignment of structures, using plumb bob, gauge line, and level.
• Mix mortar or grout and pour or spread mortar or grout on marble slabs, stone, or foundation.
• Remove wedges, fill joints between stones, finish joints between stones, using a trowel, and smooth the mortar to an attractive finish, using a tuck pointer.
• Set stone or marble in place, according to layout or pattern.
• Clean excess mortar or grout from surface of marble, stone, or monument, using sponge, brush, water, or acid.
• Lay brick to build shells of chimneys and smokestacks or to line or reline industrial furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations.
• Replace broken or missing masonry units in walls or floors.
• Smooth, polish, and bevel surfaces, using hand tools and power tools.

Further Information

• Stonemason- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

 Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

There are many pathways to develop skills, experience, and qualifications for a career in stone cutting and masonry.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: construction, traditional stonewall construction.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: building construction, pre-apprenticeship, construction, engineering technology, eco-construction.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Stone Cutting, Stone Masonry.

Search for Apprenticeships

How to become an Apprentice:

• You must obtain employment as an apprentice in your chosen occupation.
• The employer must be approved to train apprentices.
• The employer must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment. In certain crafts, apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a Ishihara colour vision test approved by SOLAS.

Entry Requirements:

• The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.

The minimum educational requirements are:

1. Grade D in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent, OR
2. The successful completion of an approved pre-apprenticeship course, OR
3. Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

It should be noted that these are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes, however, previous experience of the following subjects would be an advantage but not essential: Art, Technical Drawing/Graphics, Technology, Construction Studies and Mathematics.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €55k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Glassdoor/ CIF Rates/ WRC/ Excel

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Bricklayers and masons, Plasterers.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

Employment levels for bricklayers and plasterers have been declining annually since 2021 with numbers employed in 2023 below pre-COVID-19 levels; the numbers employed are too small to determine if the decline is related to one role more than the other. The number of employment permits issued declined between 2022 and 2023, particularly related to a fall in the number issued for plasterers. The number of online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) was small, while DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy notifications were for plasterers, stonemasons and bricklayers.

The demand for both bricklayers and plasterers for housing is expected to decline in the coming years (see DFHERIS report); apartments account for an increasing share of housing stock and have fewer requirements for bricklayers due to the use of pre-cast concrete and modern methods of construction (MMC) where much of this work is carried out off-site. While MMC and offsite construction are likely to further dampen the demand for bricklayers and plasterers, retrofit activities are likely to see the need for reskilling and upskilling (e.g. heritage retrofitting, wall retrofit and external wall insulation techniques) for some of those currently employed in this occupation.

• Construction Industry Federation

  • Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6
  • (01) 406 6000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Design & Craft Council of Ireland

  • Castle Yard, Kilkenny
  • (056) 77 61804
  • Click Here

• The Heritage Council

  • Church Lane, Kilkenny
  • (056) 777 0777
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• OPW - The Office of Public Works

  • Head Office Jonathan Swift Street Trim Co. Meath C15 NX36
  • (046) 942 6000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• National Monuments Service

  • Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Custom House Dublin 1
  • (01) 888 2178
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here