Heritage Week: Aug 24-31

Nearly 30 events have been planned throughout the county to celebrate Heritage Week 2008 in Kildare. These events include a range of talks, field trips and exhibitions aimed at encouraging people to take an interest in their local heritage.

Heritage week is part of a European-wide initiative with the express aims of fostering awareness of Ireland’s built, natural and cultural heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation and increasing interest in our shared heritage. There is a wide variety of events this year and people are urged to come along and take part.

These events include a series of talks on KFM entitled “Your Place – Your heritage” by County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups; Athy Heritage Centre will host a talk “The Forgotten Heroes of South Kildare” by Frank Taaffe; and NRA archaeologist Noel Dunne will give a presentation "Uncovering Hidden People - The Archaeology of Recent Road Schemes in Kildare” hosted by Cilll Dara Historical Society. John MacKenna will discuss “Mary Leadbeater and The Quaker Influence on Ballitore”.

For the more active, IPCC are looking for volunteers to assist in the blocking of drains at Lullymore West Cutaway bog as part of its conservation management, Coillte are hosting a nature and heritage walk in Mullaghreelan Wood and Tir Na Mona will lead a walk in Donadea Forest Park and Ballynafagh Lake.

A number of exhibitions will be held throughout the county including the exhibition of Downing Street Silver in the Long Gallery, Castletown House, and Maynooth Local History Group will host an exhibition on ‘Aspect of Maynooth’s Past’.

Many local history groups will be hosting events such as a tour of the Church of St Michael & All Angels, Millicent, Clane organised by County Kildare Archaeological Society and heritage walks around Celbridge and Kildare. The Landmark Trust will host a self-guided tour of Castletown Roundhouse.

Heritage sites within the county, such as the Athy and Kildare Heritage Centre, The National Stud and Maynooth Castle have free admission or special concessions during the week. Kildare County Council has compiled a listing of these and the many other events happening around the County, which is available on www.kildare.ie or in all local libraries. To view a listing of Heritage Week events in other counties go to www.heritageweek.ie or call 1850200878.

Bridget Loughlin
Co Kildare Heritage Officer.