IT’S IN OUR NATURE
MARGARET RODDY LOOKS AT THE HERITAGE WEEK ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE IN LOUTH TO HELP US ENJOY OUR WONDERFUL NATURAL HERITAGE OF MOUNTAINS, COASTS AND URBAN LANDSCAPES
Ireland’s Heritage Week is inviting people to explore our wonderful natural heritage and here in Louth we have a rich natural landscape which has shaped our stories and history, from Maeve’s Gap in the Cooley mountains to the Boyne River where Fionn McCool caught the salmon of knowledge.
Appreciating our natural heritage goes hand in hand with protecting our landscape and encouraging biodiversity and sustainability, from protecting threatened habitats to growing wildlife-friendly plants in our gardens.
National Heritage Week 2017 gets underway on Saturday August 19 with the aim of helping more people learn about and enjoy Ireland’s nature.
From whale watching to tasting medieval ale and mead, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Louth this Heritage Week. And best of all, most of the events are free.
An opportunity join the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for their annual free and guided land-based whale watch at a local headland takes place at Clogherhead on Saturday August 26 at 2pm.
Dundalk Library is hosting a workshop to exploring the town’s natural heritage and what can be done to protect our wildlife in the branch library at Roden Place on Wednesday August 23 at 11am.
The following day, the library is also the venue for those who would like to find out how to contribute to the preservation of Ireland’s cultural heritage by transcribing folklore from the 1930s and minor placenames at 3.45pm.
Mellifont Abbey is the venue for a fun day out for all the family on Sunday August 20. There’s a chance to paint a medieval tile, discover how the monks brewed ale and made mead, free guided tours of the old abbey, which is Ireland’s first Cistercain Abbey. The following week, on Sunday August 27 Ardee Concert Band give a recital at Old Mellifont Abbey at 2pm. There will also be a demonstration of archery by the Ardee Archers, from 12noon.
This is the first time that the beautiful Rathescar Lake, close to Dunleer, is a venue for Heritage Week with
FUN, FREE AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR ALL THE FAMILY ACROSS THE COUNTY
history and nature walks and a fun run on Sunday August 27.
The Dunleer and District Historical Society are delight to announce that they are hosting Éanna Ní Lamhna who will lead a heritage walk on Monday, August 21. Meet in St Bridget’s Hall, Upper Main Street at 6.30pm.
SeaFoodRocks , the Irish Culture & Seafood Festival taking place in Clogherhead is hosting historical headland walks on Saturday August 26 from 6pm to 7pm and Sunday August 27 from 4pm to 5pm, which offerstunning views and incredible stories.
The Land of Legends 8k challenge in aid of the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre takes place at Clogherhead on Sunday August 27 from 11am.
Drogheda is marking Heritage Day with The Big Bang- a family fun day at Drogheda Millmount Museum, including the firing of a real cannon.
‘Wildlife on Our Doorsteps, an exhibition by wildlife photographer Eric O’Neill is on show at Drogheda Library, Stockwell Lane for the duration of Heritage Week. The library is the venue for a children’s workshop on exploring the natural heritage on Wednesday August 23 at 2pm, with an information session on transcribing folklore and logging placenames on Thursday August 24 at 11.45am.
The town’s community historian Brendan Matthews is leading a walk through The Dale on Sunday August 20, meeting at The Cenotaph at 2.30pm.
There’s a chance to explore the beautiful Townley Hall, designed by the renowned architect Francis Johnston, on Sunday August 20 at 3pm.
The medieval town of Carlingford is the centre for several Heritage Week events, where the church bell of the old Holy Trinity Church will ring at 12 noon on Saturday August 19 to mark the beginning of the week. There will also be a guided walking tour of the village’s medieval buildings, meeting at the Heritage Centre, on both Saturday August 19 and 26 at 11am and 2pm.
Visitors and locals are invited to take part in Carlingford’s first Sound and Light event in the grounds of the Heritage Centre on Saturday August 19, beginning at 7.30pm.
Johanna Woods of the WildWood Cafe in Carlingford is hosting a Wilderness Fest and 10km Wild Run on Saturday August 19 from 11am to 7pm.
Louth Woodland Gatherings are inviting people to join then on a walk through the Gap of the North on Saturday 19 at 1.30pm. The two and a half hour walk will take in Ravensdale Forest and Dromad Woods.
A fun afternoon is promised for all ages when the Geological Survey of Ireland hosts an afternoon walk along Carlingford Lough on Thursday August 24. Geologist Siobhan Power will lead the walk starting from the lay-by, Omeath Road, Carlingford, at 2pm.
Some Highlights:
Seaside Nature Walk and Talk; 26 August, 5:30pm - 7pm. Beach at Baltray
Enter the gate to the beach at Baltray, proceed down the pot holed road until you reach the second gate and fence at 5:30. From there we will walk along the path to the shore and training wall, then walk along the shore looping back to the path and back to the gate at around 7pm.
Admission Free. Further Information. 0879145363 or bmartin@regintel.com.
Heritage Day: The Big Bang, 27 August, 2pm - 5pm. Drogheda Museum Millmount.
A family fun day with a great variety of entertaining interactive heritage attractions for all ages. Then experience “The Big Bang”, real cannon fire, a lot louder than you think!
It will feature guided tours, displays of historical items, storytelling, re-enactments, films of Old Drogheda, genealogical research guidance and the major attraction, “The Big Bang” - the firing of the working cannons by trained volunteers.
Further Information; 041-9833097 info@droghedamuseum.ie For full details of all events, check out www.heritageweek.ie