Much to enjoy in National Heritage Week
The Kilcullen event commemorates the local men who died in WW1 and has been organised by the local Great War Commemoration Group. Beginning at 7.30pm with an exhibition of WW1 memorabilia, a number of local and familiar contributors will commemorate the theme in song and words. Admission is free, thanks to support from Kildare County Council's Heritage department.
Other events across mid- and south Kildare encompass archaeology, folklore, historic buildings and gardens, living history, local history, museums and galleries and collections, traditional skills, wildlife, and events for children.
Those interested in the historic tower on the Hill of Allen may gain access to it between 10am-6pm from Saturday 23 and Sunday 31 August. Apart from the stories around it, there are wonderful views of mid-Kildare from the tower. No booking is required.
A Historical Walking Tour of Kildare Town strides out from the Heritage Centre through the week, at 11.30am on Saturday 23 and from Monday 25 through Saturday 11.30, and on Sunday 24 at 2pm.
A Clane History Walk to Alexandra Bridge has been organised by the Clane Local History Group on Saturday 23, starting at 3pm. And there's an Historical Walking Tour of Rathangan operated by Kildare Tidy Towns group on Saturday 24 at 2pm.
An event in Athy Heritage Centre on Sunday 24 August will explore Athy's links with the Battle of Clontarf. 'Clontarf to Athy - A Long Bloody Walk' begins at midday.
'Exploring the Nature and Culture of Lullymore' is the theme of a slide show and walk around the Lullymore Biodiversity Trail. Starts at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre at 2pm on Sunday 24 August. And if you're into bats, there's a walk on the wild side of Clane on the same day, with experts from the Kildare Bat Group and Birdwatch Ireland. It starts at 8pm.
'Kildare Men in the First World War' is a talk by local historian and author James Durney, in the Parish Meeting Room in Kill on Monday 25 August. It starts at 8.30pm. James will also be talking on Kildare and the Great War at a number of other venues through the Heritage Week period, with an emphasis on localities. In Athy Library on Tuesday 26 August at 6pm, and in Kildare Library on Tuesday 28 at the same time. It's also in Maynooth Library on Saturday 30.
A guided tour of the archaeological highlights of Castledermot sets out from St James's Church on Wednesday 27 August, starting at 4pm. It is organised by the Castledermot Local History Group.
The Irish High Cross Pop-Up Exhibition is taking place in Teach Diarmada Community Centre in Castledermot from Wednesday 27-Saturday 30 August, organised by the Castledermot Local History Group.
Monasterevin Library will host a talk on 'The Hanging of Fr Prendergast' on Thursday 28 August, beginning at 7.30pm. Booking is required at 045 529239.
The impact of the 1798 Rebellion on small rural communities in Ireland will be explored in a talk, '1798 - Snapshots of a Rebellion' in Ballitore Library and Quaker Museum on Thursday 28 August, starting at 7pm. It's organised by Kildare County Library and Arts Service.
The Country Markets organisation has set up baking, growing and crafts events. Baking bread demonstrations will be held in the Carmelite Priory Hall in Kildare on Wednesday 28 August at 11am, and 'Making, Baking & Growing' is set for the Town Hall in Naas on Friday 29 August, starting at 9.45am.
Seamus Taaffe and the Athy Heritage Centre has organised An Introduction to Shackleton on 31 August in the Centre from 2.30pm. It will feature the many mementoes and the information in the Shackleton section of the Centre.
Under the title 'Preparing for War: Relics at the Curragh', there's a visit to the Curragh Military Museum and the WW1 training trenches on the Curragh Plains on Sunday 31 August from 3pm. It's organised by the County Kildare Archaeological Society.
There's a children's fun and activities session on the natural heritage of Naas in Naas Library, on Wednesday 27 August, starting at 9.30am, and similar events in Newbridge (12 noon) and Kildare (2.30pm) on Wednesday 27, and in Athy on Thursday 28 at 11am. There's also a birdwatching event in Donadea Forest Park on Saturday 30 August, starting at 10am.
An audio-guided tour of the River Barrow can be taken any time on foot, bicycle or canoe. The guides are available through Ingenious Ireland's website (Google it) and cover the heritage, history and wildlife along the river.
More details of all of these, and more events across the whole county, are available in the free book 'National Heritage Week Event Guide' available at your local library, and online at heritageweek.ie.
