Full event guide for what’s on for Heritage Week around Wexford
MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY IN HOOK LIGHTHOUSE
Almost 60 events, many of them free, will take place in Wexford to celebrate National Heritage Week which starts this Saturday.
Wexford always hosts some of the most interesting events in the country during the Week, and this year proves to be no exception.
Launching Heritage Week in Dublin, Minister Heather Humphreys said: ‘ Throughout 2016, our centenary year, we have reconnected with our history and our heritage, so this year’s theme for National Heritage Week of ‘One Hundred Years of Heritage’ is very appropriate.
Some of the events taking place in Wexford include the Wexford Walled Town Medieval Day on August 27, free workshops for children on making medieval draw-string purses at Bunclody, New Ross and Wexford libraries, some great nature events at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve and Raven Wood, and free tours of attractions such as Tintern Abbey and Ferns Castle.
Heritage Week in Wexford will be officially opened at the JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum at 3pm on Saturday, August 20. It runs until August 28.
For further details, visit www.heritageweek.ie
Official opening of Heritage Week at the JFK Arboretum Join Thomas Pakenham, world famous author and tree-expert, on a talk/tour of the extensive tree collection in the JFK Arboretum. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 20, 3pm to 4pm Ireland’s Great Barrier Coast Nature walk along the barrier separating Lady’s Island Lake from the Celtic Sea to see landforms, coastal wildlife, seabirds and wild flowers including the very rare Cottonweed. Location: Rostoonstown Date: August 28, 2pm until 4pm The Unyoke Walk 10k walk with expert guides over varied landscape of vast panoramas of the military manoeuvring in the hours prior to the Battle of Oulart Hill Location: The Trading Post in the Unyoke Date: August 27, 10am until 12.30pm Wexford Walled Town Medieval Day Free family fun day featuring falconry display, children’s digging pits, viking shield making, medieval pottery making, medieval archaeology exhibition, guided walking tours of town wall Location: Westgate Tower Date: August 27, 11am until 5pm School of Archaeology Medieval Drawstring Purse & Neolithic pot making Informative introduction to leather working/pot making throughout the ages. Children will make their very own pinch pot and purse and design with Neolithic art forms Location: Bunclody Library Date: August 22, 10.30am to 11.15am and 11.30am to 12.15pm Talk on the Somme with Neale Rooney The Somme offensive began on July 1, 1916.This talk does not seek to criticise or question the battle, rather it focuses on those who could; the Irish men and women who experienced it first hand. Location: Bunclody Library Date: August 25, 7pm to 8.30pm How to Make a Medieval Draw-String Purse Introduction to leather working throughout the ages, followed by the fun activity of making the purses. Two sessions, for 6 - 8 year olds and 9-12 year olds. Location: Wexford Library Date: August 23, 2.30pm to 3.15pm and 4pm to 4.45pm How to Make a Medieval Draw-String Purse Children will get the opportunity to make & keep their very own drawstring purse. The workshop will show leather working throughout the ages. Workshops are provided by Mark Kelly Location: New Ross Library Date: August 23, 10am to 11am and 11.30am to 12.30pm The Natural Heritage of Hook Head The natural heritage of the Hook within the context of 100 years past with Jim Hurley. Location: New Ross Library Date: August 23 7pm to 8.30pm Walking Tour of Enniscorthy’s Industrial Heritage Learn about the town’s past industries such as brewing and milling, and of how river and rail facilitated trade. Discover what the physical built remains can tell us of the town’s thriving past. Location: Enniscorthy railway station carpark Date: August 28, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 4.30pm Tradition Farming Practices Tracing the changes in farming practices during the last 100 years, Liam Ryan will bring you on a journey back through time. Location: Tintern Abbey Date: August 21 1pm to 2pm Sow and Grow Ever-popular, this wonderful event aimed at encouraging children to learn about sowing seeds and caring for their new plants is literally hands on. Location: Tintern Abbey Date: August 23, 11am to 4pm and August 25 11am to 4pm Basketry workshop Barbara Kelly will weave her magic creating a wonderful craft piece before your eyes. Barbara is an expert basket-maker and is always enthusiastic about answering questions and giving helpful tips. Location: Tintern Abbey Date: August 22, 11am to 2pm Free Guided Tours Enjoy a free guided tour of this great tower house and find out what life was really like 600 years ago. A murder hole, a prison and a secret room; they’re all here at Ballyhack Castle. Location: Ballyhack Castle Date: August 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 10am to 4pm Lecture: John Millington Synge and 1916 Professor Anthony Roche, Emeritus Professor at the School of English, Drama and Film in UCD will give a lecture on the influence of J.M. Synge on the events of 1916. Location: Gorey Library Date: August 23, 7.30pm to 9pm Time Travelling in Costume: 100 Years of Fashion from 1816 - 1916 Step into the shoes of your ancestors. Join us for an interactive, hands-on workshop for adults and children exploring clothing and fashion from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Location: Gorey Library Date: August 24, 11am to 12pm Demonstration of the use of Remote Sensing tools for Archaeological Research Join the Sliabh Coillte Heritage Group in seeing how Remote Sensing tools are used to investigate archaeology by non-invasive non-destructive means under the direction of Kevin Barton. Location: Dunbrody Abbey Visitor Centre Car Park Date: August 21, 11.30am to 4.30pm Free Admission and Free Guided Tours of Tintern Abbey Enjoy free admission to this 12th century monastery which was remodelled as a fortified home in the 16th century. Take a free guided tour and have a snack in the Tintern tearooms afterwards. Location: Tintern Abbey OPW Date: August 28, 10am to 4pm Free Admission to Ferns Castle Enjoy free admission and guided tour of this fantastic site. Plus, an afternoon of music & events on Sunday, August 21. Location: Ferns Castle Date: Daily from August 20 to August 28, 10am to 4pm Forest School for Families A day of bushcraft, Forest School games and activities, fire-making, shelter building and nature art in Heritage Park Location: Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig Date: August 22, 11.30am to 3.30pm An assortment of treats, medieval style! Take turns to try on some replica armour before you join the shield-making workshop then check out a display of siege weapons and finish by discovering what a Knights diet was like. Location: Ballyhack Castle Date: August 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 10am to 4pm Whale Watch Ireland 2016 Join the IWDG for a free and guided land-based whale watch at a local headland, as part of All-Ireland Whale Watch day Location: Hook Lighthouse Date: August 27, 2pm to 5pm Bug and Butterfly Discovery Events Catch and identify butterflies, ladybirds and other insects at the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Visitor Centre. Nets, jars, ID guides and pooters are provided. Bug hunters of all ages are welcome. Location: Visitors’ Centre, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Date: August 21, 2pm to 4pm, and August 26, 11am to 1pm Ardcavan Beach Walk Guided walk on Ardcavan Beach at low tide to see and identify plants and animals of the coast. ID charts are provided. Meet at the entrance to Ardcavan Beach. Dress for the weather. Location: Ardcavan Beach Date: August 22, 2.30pm to 4.30pm Bat Talk and Walk After a presentation about Bats, walk a trail to see them emerging at sunset. Bat detector boxes will pick up their calls and help everyone see them fly. Wear outdoor clothing. Bring a torch Location: Visitors’ Centre, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
Date: August 27, 8.30pm to 11.30pm Morning Nature Walk at Raven Wood A guided walk of Raven Wood Nature Reserve to learn about the habitats, plants and animals of the area. All are welcome; suitable for adults and teens. Dress for weather and bring light refreshments. Location: Raven Wood Nature Reserve main entrance Date: August 24, 9am to 12pm Bioblitz at Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Find and identify as many species of plant and animal as possible. This intensive wildlife field study will help with the conservation management of the reserve in future. Location: Visitors’ Centre, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Date: August 23, 9am to 4pm Feeding the Ancestors - The importance of corndrying kilns in preserving the medieval harvest. How did our ancestors preserve and prepare crops for storage? Archaeologists Susan Lyons and Orla Power demonstrate Ireland’s only functioning corn-drying kiln using authentic fuels and cereals. Location: The Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford Date: August 21, 2.30pm to 4pm Pond Dipping & Bug Hunt at Raven Wood Family event looking for freshwater and land bugs, and other creepy-crawlies in Raven Wood. Nets, trays and bug ID charts provided. Discover the watery jungle to be found in every pond. Location: Raven Wood Nature Reserve Date: August 25, 11am to 1pm Guided Tour of Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Visitor Centre Short guided tour of Wexford Wildfowl Reserve to learn about the natural heritage of the area and do a spot of birdwatching. You will be introduced to the hides and ponds by staff at the reserve. Bring binoculars etc. to make the most of your visit. Location: Visitors’ Centre, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Date: August 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 3pm to 4pm The Ros Tapestry - A Tale Told in Thread The Ros Tapestry is a unique project that has been ongoing in the South East since 1998 and has involved over 150 stitchers working on 15 giant tapestries for a permanent exhibition in New Ross. Location: The Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre Date: August 21, 2pm to 3.30pm, August 22, 23 10am to 5pm School of Archaeology : Medieval Drawstring Purse & Neolithic Pottery Making This workshop will focus on an informative introduction to leather working/pot making throughout the ages. Children will make their very own pinch pot and purse and design with Neolithic art forms. Location: Gorey Library Date: August 22 2.30pm to 3.15pm and 3.30pm to 4.15pm Dominicans of Rosbercon 1267-1800 Remnants of the historic monastery are barely still visible. This monastery was in its day a seat of learning for students of religion from places as far away as Spain. Location: New Ross Boat Club Date: August 23, 8pm to 9.30pm The Charter School in the Maudlins and the Corn Mills on the Mill Stream An informative and interactive talk by Jenny Nuttall of the New Ross Historical Society about the Charter School in the Maudlins and the corn mills on the Mill Stream. A walk towards Napper’s Ponds. Location: The Maudlin’s Bridge, New Ross Date: August 20, 3pm to 4.30pm Street Scenes of New Ross Through Cavanagh’s Magic Lantern Jimmy Fitzgibbon of New Ross Historical Society, will present pictures which have not been seen before, of street scenes of New Ross in the late 1800’s, through the lens of Cavanagh’s magic lantern Location: St. Mary’s Secondary School Date: August 26, 8pm to 9.30pm A Walk On The Wild Side A foraging workshop with Mary White from Blackstairs Eco Trails. Explore the beautiful woodlands and discover the secrets of wild, safe food including fruits, fungi, nuts, berries and herbs Location: Dunbrody Forest, Lacken Hill. Date: August 27, 11am to 12.30pm An Exhibition and talk on the New Ross Lace Collection A talk by Kathie Earle, Traditional Irish Crochet and Lace Expert and Gráinne Doran, Archivist, Wexford County Council, on the treasure that is New Ross Lace and its place in the history of New Ross. Location: St Mary’s Secondary School Date: August 28, 3pm to 5pm The History and Traditions of the Irishtown Jim Sutton of New Ross Historical Society, will lead a leisurely walk along the Irishtown to discuss the history and traditions of this, the oldest road leading into the town of New Ross. Location: St. Stephen’s Cemetery Date: August 21, 5pm to 5.30pm Plant hunting over the past 100 years Without great plant hunters our landscape, over the last 100 years, would look quite different than it does today. Join one of our guides on a guided tour of the Arboretum. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 20 and 27, 11am to 12pm Presentation on the plant collection at the JFK Arboretum Presentation on the plant collection at the JFK Arboretum by Kevin Naughton, Foreman/Head Gardener. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 21, 2pm to 3pm Children’s Team Building with John Nixon Exciting games for children which include problem solving games, team building games and much more – lots of fun and laughter also. Suited to children/families. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 21, 3pm to 4.30pm Butterfly Identification and Monitoring Scheme Workshop with Tomás Murray, Ecologist with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, in the AV Room at the JFK Arboretum for the morning session and a field study on site in the afternoon. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 25, 11am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm Children’s Craft Session with Zdenka Have fun making and decorating Summer arts and crafts. Booking essential (numbers limited). Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 26, 11am to 12pm Percussion Workshop with Micheál MacCoillte Learn a little about some of the handmade traditional musical instruments designed and used by Micheál. These are unique and great fun to try out. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 27 2pm to 3pm Craft Fair Take a look at some of the varied crafts on display by very talented local craftspersons. Marvel at the skill, time and effort which has been employed to produce some very unique creations. Location: JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum Date: August 28, 12pm to 5pm Create and bring home your own woodland faerie - with Dawn Morley Visit the fairy village and spot evidence of the faeries who live in the forest. The children will use their imagination and creative skills to design and make their very own woodland faerie Location: Dunbrody Forest Date: August 23 and 24, 3pm to 4.30pm Walking Tour of Gorey Join a local historian for a ramble around Gorey town. Step back in time with tales from Ram to Esmonde that trail through the rich and dynamic history of this planned market town. Location: Market House Date: August 20 and August 27, 11am to 1.30pm, History talk in Enniscorthy Rory Sweetman will give a talk on: ‘Bishop Henry Cleary and the North King Street Murders, and the Colonial Perspective of the Easter Rising.’ Location: Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy Date: August 24, 7.30pm to 8.30pm Daily Life in the 10th Century The Irish National Heritage Park is offering free experiences of daily life in the 10th Century workshops twice daily for the week. Location: Irish National Heritage Park Date: Daily from August 20 to 28, 10am to 10.30am and 3pm to 3.30pm Guided Tours of House Free historical house tours of Newtownbarry House and Gardens in Bunclody. Location: Newtownbarry House and Gardens Date: Daily from August 20 to August 28 from 3pm to 5pm Family Fun Day at Hook Lighthouse Lots of family fun and games on the lawns at the world’s oldest intact operational lighthouse on the Hook Peninsula. Location: Hook Lighthouse Date: August 21, 9.30am to 6pm Maria Doyle Kennedy in Concert at Hook Lighthouse Irish singer and songwriter Maria Doyle Kennedy will host two very special evening concerts in the lighthouse tower. Ticket only access to this fully seated event. Location: Hook Lighthouse Date: August 26, 27 7pm to 10pm The Pirate Fling Taking the Summer season to a close for the pesky Pirates on the Peninsula, they will be given free reign of the lighthouse for just one day. Location: Hook Lighthouse Date: August 28, 9.30am to 6pm Tour of 1798 Rebellion Centre A depiction of the background to the Rebellion, with a reenactment of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Location: National 1798 Rebellion Centre Date: August 24, 11am to 12pm Guided tour of Enniscorthy Castle A history of Enniscorthy, from the arrival of the Normans, to the life and times of a merchant family in the early 20th century, to 1950s Ireland and the story of Eileen Gray. Location: Enniscorthy Castle Date: August 26, 11am to 12pm, August 28, 2pm to 3pm Visit a 200-year-old Thatch Cottage Visitors can visualise how their ancestors lived. They will see the thick mud walls, and the big open fireplace where all the cooking was done. Location: Browne’s Cottage, Rickardstown, Kilmore Date: August 22 and August 26, 12pm to 4pm