How to unlock the secrets of our historic local graveyards
AN interesting new project is about to be launched by Sligo County Council to help preserve local graveyards.
Local Heritage officer Siobhán Ryan explains: “The Sligo Historic Graveyard Training Project aims to train local communities to record and publish details from historic graveyards.”
The project will be delivered by John Tierney of the Historic Graves Project. John has worked with community groups nationwide in publishing over 700 Irish graveyards to the website www. historicgraves. com
Siobhán emphasises the importance of strong community engagement: “Each community will be required to provide a team for training from 5 to 15 people. Thick soled boots and waterproof layers are always a good idea. Techniques for reading headstones such as high- powered torches and mirrors, as well as newsprint paper rubbings, will be demonstrated.
“The use of a gps cameras for surveying will also be taught. The techniques learned in the graveyard can then be applied to community surveys for other heritage sites.”
As well as being a sacred space, historic graveyards are key heritage tourism resources for any county. It is hoped that this project will assist in developing a rural tourism genealogical resource but will also give guidance in historic graveyard care and conservation.
John Tierney will hold a public information session on the project in the Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo on Monday 6th of March 2017 from 7.30pm. All Welcome.