Farmers’ role in protecting our natural heritage
THERE has been much talk recently of the importance of natural heritage and all the biodiversity that it encompasses, and how if we are to address climate change – even sustainable living – that we need to get things right as far as nature is concerned.
In Ireland, there have been many wonderful initiatives over the years that assist those communities, both urban and rural, who make a very real and positive contribution.
A sector that plays a very important role in the well-being of our natural heritage is the farming sector.
The County of Cork is lucky to possess some excellent farmers who put nature first, and such farmers now have the opportunity to be recognised on the national level with thanks to the Farming for Nature Ambassador Awards.
These awards allow people to nominate farmers or indeed farm families who are doing great things for nature on their land while farming in an economically and socially progressive way.
The awards are about farmers who are proud of what they do, and who are happy to share their story with others.
The window for making nominations is now open and will remain so up until March 31, 2020.
Hopefully, the County of Cork will see a number of entries and for further information visit https://www.farmingfornature. ie/awards/faqs.
Farm buildings grants scheme
Natural heritage is a tremendous asset for farmers, and a further asset from a heritage perspective is the wonderful built heritage that exists in many old farmyards. These buildings are disappearing at an alarming rate in some locations and would have been in place for many hundreds of years.
Farmers in the GLAS Scheme can now avail of the 2020 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, which remains open for applications until Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
The scheme is run by the Heritage Council and is operated in partnership with the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The scheme is only available for GLAS participants, and a variety of projects can be applied for where the works relate to the conservation of traditional farm buildings and related structures.
For further information, visit www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/
UCC Masters in local history
How we have managed our buildings and indeed our land over the many years constitutes a large part of our history, and there is not a parish in Ireland without a fascinating past or some fascinating stories and characters.
For those looking at learning more about local history in an academic capacity, the Masters in Local History will be of interest to many.
Run by UCC’s School of History, the course will commence in September 2020.
The part-time MA degree is offered by coursework and assessment and runs for two years (part-time).
Coursework consists of a taught component of weekly evening lectures ( Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm) in Year One, and a dissertation of 25,000-30,000 words on an approved topic must then be submitted by the end of Year Two.
Lectures are specially tailored to provide a practical guide to the writing of Irish local history, indicating the main sources, their location and how best they might be exploited.
Lectures cover the introduction to sources and archives; approaches to local history; reading the landscape, maps, census and parish records, valuation office records, and estate records; sources for urban history, oral history and folklore; historiography; landscape and material history; gender and history; labour history; military and political history; cultural history; economic history; demographics; religion and much more.
For further information, email Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil at d.odriscoll@ucc.ie or Maeve Barry at maeve.barry@ucc.ie.
Applications forms are available from http://www.pac.ie/.
Musical skills
In terms of upcoming events, the week ahead has some very nice events in store.
In Killavullen on February 1, those with an interest in Irish music have a great opportunity to hone their skills playing either the feadóg stáin (tin whistle) or the bosca ceoil (accordion).
Taking place in the Nano Nagle Centre, and organised by Cuisle Avondhu with support from Cork County Council through the Creative Ireland Programme, it promises to be a very enjoyable morning, with both workshops running from 10am to 1pm.
Spaces are limited, and there is a nominal cost for participation.
For more information, email cuisleavondhu@gmail.com or phone (087) 416 4087.
Heraldry in County Cork
On Wednesday, February 5, there will be an illustrated talk on the topic of Heraldry in County Cork. Organised by the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, the talk will be given by Gerard Crotty and commences at 8pm in the
Crawford Art Gallery, Emmet Place, Cork.
The evening sees the annual AGM of the Kilmurry Historical and Archaeological Association take place at 8pm in the Independence Museum, Kilmurry.
On Thursday, February 6, a very nice event takes place in Blarney Secondary School, looking at the village of Blarney itself in ‘music, poetry and song’.
Organised by the Blarney and District Historical Society and commencing at 8pm, the talk will be given by Barry Looney – an acclaimed traditional musician – who will present a selection of music, poetry and song, covering times of peace and tranquillity, war, mayhem and much more – all relating to Blarney.
Everyone is welcome on the night, and for more information, visit http://blarneyhistory. ie/events.