TRAILS PROJECT HAS ITS LAUNCH
THE Wicklow Trails Heritage Recording Project was launched in Roundwood Parish Centre and was jointly hosted by Wicklow County Council and Wicklow Uplands Council.
Brian Dunne, co-ordinator for Wicklow Uplands Council, provided details on the integrated network of the trails that are being developed – with the overall vision of a route from Bray to Woodenbridge getting closer to completion.
‘ This project will really complement the current trails being developed in the east of the county and offer its visitors an opportunity to fully experience and appreciate the heritage found along the route. It is intended that this project will help inform the future development of visitor and tourism interpretation and to promote this area as part of Ireland’s Ancient East,’ said Mr Dunne.
Neil Jackman of Abarta Heritage, who have been commissioned to undertake the compiling of information, outlined that the initial research has so far identified over 45 points of interest. The team led by Mr Jackman will be visiting the area in the coming weeks to engage directly with local communities to discover the rich natural, built and cultural heritage found throughout the region.
‘Each section of the route tells it’s own unique story whether it’s from glacier activity, landlords and estates or due to industries such as mining or hill farming,’ said Mr Jackman. ‘ The local knowledge is invaluable and no one knows it better than those who live or work there, so we very much look forward to finding the people and stories that will assist each of us in appreciating fully, the heritage surrounding us’.
Deirdre Burns, heritage officer for Wicklow County Council, outlined how the project would create a public archive of historical images, written records, folklore and oral history found in the towns, villages and settlements identified in the geographical area.
Each local group or individual involved in the project will essentially be the curator of the local sections and that training on digital recording will be provided. Although the main undertaking of the project is to take place over the next few months, once the digital archive is set up; new material that becomes available can continue to be added to it in the future.
A number of local story sharing events will take place in the autumn to exhibit what has been discovered and recorded during the project.