It is Heritage Week from 16 – 22 August, and ITTN Ireland has chosen something to do in every county to enjoy. There will be dancing, singing, walking, talking, art exhibitions, history, crafts and lots of things for children to enjoy.
See further events on Heritage Week.
Longford
World War II soldiers of County Longford, with Hugh Farrell
Longford military historian Hugh Farrell takes viewers through the lives of Longford locals who served in World War II in an online talk. This will take place on Microsoft Teams and can be booked by email or on Eventbrite.
7:30pm, Friday 20 August – Online event.
Louth
Art and History Brought to Life – MonArt by Miriam Fox
Miriam Fox, self-taught ink pen artist displays her giclee prints at Ardee Library throughout the week. Celebrating the nation’s culture and history, Fox’s work explores Ireland’s most spectacular historic buildings, monuments, statues, stones and castles.
14-22 August – Ardee Library
Mayo
A Handball Heritage, Revival and Fun Event
Visit Neale’s handball alley, built in 1904, as Joe Greaney and the Neale Heritage and Development Association rediscover Ireland’s forgotten game. A safe and enjoyable sport for all ages, the alley provides a free space for locals to welcome handball’s revival.
5pm-8pm, Saturday 21 August – Neale.
Meath
Free National Heritage Week Walk and Talks with Brendan Matthews
Explore the site of Sonairte with community historian Brendan Matthews, discovering the history and heritage of the area. Matthews will take visitors on a walking tour along the banks of the river Nanny, from which Ballygarth Castle can be seen. The journey continues up the wooded hill, before concluding at the ancient Rath/Hillforth site.
11:15am, 1:45pm, 3:15pm, Saturday 21 August – meet at Sonairte, The Ninch Laytown Co. Meath Ireland Tel: 041 982 7572 Email: [email protected]
Monaghan
Shirley Clerkin chats to environmental scientist Jennifer McAree during a stroll in Ballinode, discussing the ins and outs of Irish hedgerows, including wildlife, good management and the history of hedges in Ireland.
Listen on Soundcloud
Offaly
Mary Lowndes Stained Glass Window – Rediscovery, conservation and unveiling
Rediscover the recently conserved Mary Lowndes stained glass window as part of the parish’s bicentenary celebrations. This window is said to be one of the nation’s only two unaltered examples of stained glass.
2pm-7pm, Saturday 21 August – St Mary’s Church, Shinrone
Roscommon
Lecture on the History of Kilmeane Parish Church and Graveyard
This lecture will inform visitors on the conservation of the gravestones in Kilmeane Graveyard, carried out by Mote Park Conservation Group in conjunction with Mary Timoney MA. The lecture will also delve into the history of the graveyard and parish church.
4pm, Saturday 22 August – Kilmeane Parish Church and Graveyard
Sligo
Nature and Poetry Walk along the Garavogue River
Sligo Tidy Towns will celebrate nature and poetry on a guided walk along the Garavogue River in Sligo Town.
We will be guided by Michael Bell of Sligo Branch BirdWatch Ireland and Local Authority Water Communities Officer Karen Kennedy on a leisurely stroll along the river with stops for poetry readings. Michael will also point out some of the interesting flora and fauna along the way. Guests will be invited to bring their own poem or short story to share.
11am, Saturday 22 August – Doorly Park
Tipperary
To mark Heritage Week, Heritage & Biodiversity Day will take place in Clonmel’s Denis Burke Park.
The Applefest Team will be hosting a series of family-friendly workshops and activities, ranging from willow weaving to music-making and bunting painting.
Events take place from 11am – 4pm, on Saturday 21 August.
Waterford
Explore the history of Halfway House on the main Waterford Cheekpoint road. At this crossing point, you can take a look at the old pub, shop and post office that once lay here.
A guided walk of the site takes place on Sunday, 22 August to celebrate Water Heritage Day. Tickets are available on Eventbrite: Halfway House Walk.
Westmeath
Take a step back in time with a free guided tour of Dún na Sí Heritage Park.
A guided tour of the Heritage Park features prehistoric farming monuments and buildings, allowing visitors to see what life was like in rural Ireland years ago.
Tours take place at 11 am and 2 pm on Friday 20th August. To book a space, visit Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park or contact 090-6481183.
Wexford
A photo exhibition is taking place in the shop windows of a number of buildings in Slaney Street, Enniscorthy. The photos show Slaney Street and Enniscorthy in the past, from the nineteenth century to the present day. The photographs give an opportunity for all, including heritage newcomers, to see historic photos of the town which really helps to bring the past to life. Did you know that an elephant once came to town?!
Slaney Street is an important thoroughfare which connects the town centre to the River Slaney. A short stroll to the south-east is Enniscorthy Castle.
Wicklow
Wicklow County Archives is proud to present the county publication Wicklow and the War of Independence. The ebook version is launched to mark the anniversary of the Truce which officially began on the 11th of July 1921. The hard-copy of the book will launch, with the exhibition of the same name, in August at the official opening of the new Wicklow Library & Archives.
The book brings together a collection of essays and images by 12 of the county’s historians who have researched the revolutionary era in their respective localities from a variety of perspectives. The result is a series of interwoven studies that bring the complex tapestry of this significant part of Wicklow history into new and sharper focus.
Download the ebook here