It’s only natural that we get out and celebrate Cork’s rich
Heritage MORE THAN 160 EVENTS ACROSS 60 CORK LOCATIONS DURING HERITAGE WEEK 2017
IT’S in our nature to get out and celebrate Cork’s rich and vibrant cultural, social and built heritage.
That’s the message from the mayor of Cork County, Cllr Declan Hurley, who has urged people across the county to get out and enjoy the line-up of events for Heritage Week 2017, which will get underway this coming Friday.
The initiative, which is once again being co-ordinated in Cork by the council’s heritage unit under the auspices of the Heritage Council, will see events taking place at dozens of locations across the county over the coming days.
The theme for Heritage Week 2017 is ‘It’s In Your Nature’, with Cork’s natural heritage being the main focus for the do0zens of individual events taking place across the length and breadth of the county.
“Cork boasts an exceptionally high quality of natural heritage, from our lakes and river valleys to our mountain and woodlands, with a coastline stretching to more than 1,000 kilometres,” said Mayor Hurley.
“Thanks to the wonderful network of groups in Cork, this natural heritage will come under the spotlight over the coming week, with locals and visitors alike being offered the opportunity to be active, have fun and learn about the natural splendours that lie on our doorsteps,” he added.
The council’s heritage officer, Conor Nelligan said than more than 160 events will take place across 60 locations during the course of the week.
“Many of the events that are taking place across the week will be free, with the programme highlighting the abundance of great work undertaken by communities across Cork, and indeed the whole country, to preserve our natural, cultural and built heritage,” said Mr Nelligan.
From Ballincollig to Bantry and from Mallow to Midleton, communities have been busy over the past number of weeks putting the final touches to a comprehensive array of events, details of which can be found by following the link at www. corkcoco.ie/heritage.
The north and mid- Cork regions feature extensively on the programme, with a range of events taking place to suit all ages and interests throughout the course of the week.
These will include free daily audio-guide tours of Doneraile Wildlife Park’s stunning Parklands and buildings, with the venue also hosting a kids ‘Mini Best Hunt’ on Sunday, August 20 where they will learn about the tiny creatures all around us and their habitats.
On Saturday, August 19 the Kilmurry Historical & Archaeological Association will host a ‘Hidden Gems’ mystery bus tour of the area, taking participants to historical sites on private lands that are rarely seen by the public.
On the same day Ireland’s largest industrial archaeological site, the Gunpowder Mills in Ballincollig, will hosts a walk offering people the chance to discover how gunpowder was made in the late 19th century.
The Buttevant 700 exhibition, which will be open at the Muintir Na Tire over both weekends of the week, will commemorate the 700th anniversary of the first murage grant of 1317 to encircle the town of Buttevant with stone wall defences.
There will be open air dancing at Laharn Cross, Lombardstown on both Sunday evenings, a guided tour of Newberry (Kilshannig) Graveyard including visit inside the church on Monday and a talk on the story of the River Martin at the Blarney GAA club on Wednesday.
The Kades County in Glenville will host a night of trad music and folklore next Thursday, including a talk by the connections between the village the Clonmult Ambush of 1921, there will be an open day at Annesgrove Castle, Castletownroche on Sunday 27 and a historical tour of Ballingeary on the same day taking in local historical monuments and finishing at Gougane Barra.
For a full line up of events taking place across Cork, and indeed the whole country, under the banner of Heritage Week 2016 visit www.heritageweek.ie.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) will offer the public free access to all of the sites it administers on Sunday, August 27 to mark the conclusion of Heritage Week 2017.