MANY LOCAL EVENTS FOR HERITAGE WEEK
WITH school just around the corner, families can fit in some last minute activities as many local communities in the county have organised events for National Heritage Week, which takes place from August 19 until August 27.
Since 2005, the week has grown into a highly successful programme and offers educational events and highlights the abundance of work that is carried out in all communities, which is to preserve and promote natural, built and cultural heritage.
National Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days and every year during this time millions of tourists visit historical monuments and sites throughout Europe, so Ireland joined by celebrating with a full week of events.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
There will be numerous events happening around the county starting Saturday, August 19.
• The official opening will happen at 3 p.m., with a guided tour of JFK Arboretum, where many different trees of the world will be explored.
• Learn about the Ogham alphabet in Ferns Castle at 12 noon, where you can try writing a
piece. The castle in Ferns will also be giving guided tours for free during the whole week starting from 10 a.m.
• Gael agus Gall actors will re-enact early medieval daily life in The Irish National Heritage Park from 10 a.m., and also Sunday, August 20.
• Over in Ballyhack Castle, there will be a guided tour from 10 a.m. and participants can also try on some armour. This tour will also take place on August 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, and 27 from 10 a.m.
• Visit some of the wonderful attractions complete with a guided tour at each location with Hook Highlights Tour. The day will include the Dunbrody Ship, Loftus Hall and Hook Peninsula at 9 a.m. Also available August 22 and August 26.
• There will be a talk at Kilmokea Country Manor and Gardens called ‘The Taking of Ireland’. which identifies Kilmokea as the landing site of the first invasion of Ireland when Cessair led 49 women and three men. The discussion will start at 9.15 a.m.
• Discover how cast model knights and soldiers are made in Ballyhack Castle, at 2 p.m. Also taking place August 20.
• Make heritage crafts and sleep in the park Viking Settlement in the Irish National Heritage Park for the Family Primitive Skills Weekend at 10 a.m. Also August 20, at 12 noon.
• Over two days, participants will explore the world of ‘Bodgers’ to gain skills to create a fully functional pole lathe in the Irish National Heritage Park, at 9.30 a.m.
• Wexford Town Medieval Day will be celebrating Walled Towns Day from 1 p.m. in the green area behind Westgate Tower/Heritage Centre. Discover facts about daily life in the 10th century with guided walking tours and re-enactments of Viking and medieval life. Live music also from 3 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
• Go onboard the research vessel to learn about Ireland’s ancient and submerged landscapes from Kilmore Quay, at 10 a.m.
• Jim Hurley will give a nature walk and talk through Ballycross Apple Farm at 2 p.m.
• Catch and identify some butterflies in the grounds of the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve visitor centre at 2 p.m.
• Get to know local herbs, wild food and medicine with a walk by the river Bann at 11 a.m., from Carol Boland of Hollyfort Tidy Towns. Participants to meet at Grove Bridge, Hollyfort, Gorey.
• Help build a outdoor clay oven in Sigginstown Castle, from 10 a.m., followed by a tour of the castle at 4 p.m.
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
• Find out how to make a bug motel from locally sourced materials in Tintern Abbey, at 11 a.m.
• Build a thatched shelter at the Stone Age site in the Irish National Heritage Park, at 10 a.m.
• Wexford Town Walls Talk will outline the rich history and archaeology of the town and walls, and also what works are to be carried out in the near future. The discussion will take place at the West Gate tower and Selskar Abbey, at 4 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22
• Make your own pottery piece following stone age techniques, at 11 a.m., and another class at 1 p.m., in Tintern Abbey.
• Discover the art of brass rubbing with The Irish National Heritage Park specially commissioned hand-crafted pieces at 9.30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
• Take a guided walk on Ardcavan Beach to see coastal animals and plants at low tide with Wexford Wildfowl Reserve. Meet at the entrance of the beach at 2 p.m.
• Join Imogen Stafford in the Irish National Heritage Park for some wire animal sculpting at 10 a.m.
• Mary Redmond will be giving a demonstration of heritage hand-knitting techniques incorporating themes of nature in the JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum, at 10 a.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
• Experience a show and tell on Celtic birds in the Irish National Heritage Park from 9.30 a.m.
• Over at Raven Wood, at 10 a.m., see what insects and other mini-beasts live in ponds and woodlands with the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve.
• Bake in an outdoor clay oven and hearth in Sigginstown Castle, at 10 a.m., followed by a tour guide of the castle at 11 a.m.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
• Experience the wetlands and see the conservation work the Irish National Heritage Park are undertaking with a woodland walk from Chris Hayes, at 11 a.m.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
• The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group will host an information day at Hook Lighthouse from 11 a.m., followed by the All-Ireland Whale Watch from 2 p.m., also at Hook.
• Take an 11K walk through varied landscape featuring panoramas of the military manoeuvring in the hours before the Battle of Oulart Hill. The Unyoke Walk will start at 10 a.m., with people meeting at The Trading Post.
• The medieval site of Clonmines Castles will be open to the public for the evening. Ian Doyle of the Heritage Council will speak at 5 p.m. and all are welcome to bring a picnic and blanket.
• There will be a willow basketry making course in the Irish National Heritage Park at 10 a.m., where participants will make a small basket.
• Enjoy a two-day course in splitting and dressing stone in the Irish National Heritage Park from 9 a.m. Pat Hickey will lead the participants in how to choose, split and dress stone that can be used as cornerstones, lentils or for stone arches.
• ‘A Tale Told in Thread’, 15 embroidered tapestries depicting our Norman Heritage in The Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre, New Ross, from 10 a.m. Also showing Sunday, August 27, from 11 a.m.
SUN, AUGUST 27
• Lecture by Professor Nicola Gordon-Bowe, where she will talk about the history of the Newtownbarry Lace School and its place in the Irish lace industry of the 19th century. The talk at Newtownbarry
House and Gardens in Bunclody will start at 3 p.m.
• Visit JFK Memorial Park and Arboretum from 11 a.m., and take a look at some of the varied crafts on display by talented local craft persons, while renowned local plein-air painter Jane Meyler paints some inspiring landscapes at the arboretum.
• Join Guy Urbin in the Irish
National Heritage Park at 10 a.m. as he introduces the world of blacksmithing. Guy will inspire participants to create their own poker, candle holder or fashion a horse shoe into a functional piece of hardware. For more information visit www.heritageweek.ie