Local landmarks in heritage colouring book

The tower of Old Kilcullen and Donnelly's Hollow both feature in a new colouring book aimed at making children aware of their local heritage, writes Brian Byrne.

'Colour in Kildare Heritage', published by Kildare County Council, features Rua the library reading champion, visiting many well known heritage sites across County Kildare.

The colouring book — launched by Mayor of Kildare Cllr Brendan Weld — also facilitates two draws during 2016, in one of which each month children are encouraged to send in copies of their pictures to the Heritage Office to be entered into a draw.

The second draw, organised with the Kildare Library Services, encourages children to borrow a small Rua from their local library and to take him on a tour around the sites featured in the colouring book taking 'selfies' as they go. The pictures can them be sent into KCC Heritage Office for a draw in September 2016.

“We hope the colouring book will encourage children and their parents to view these heritage sites in a different way, to get excited about Kildare’s Heritage and by engaging in the two draws to visit some of the sites during the year,” says Bridget Loughlin, County Kildare Heritage Officer.

The cartoons were drawn by Doodlemoose Designs and the photos on which the cartoons are based were taken by Deaglan de Paor. The colouring book was carried out as part of the implementation of the County Kildare Heritage Plan with funding from the Heritage Council.

'Colour in Kildare Heritage' will be available from KCC offices (Planning Dept) and all KCC libraries. The individual cartoons can be downloaded from KCC's website.

The other sites in the book include the Wonderful Barn, Silken Thomas Tree and St Particks College, Naas Court House, Pollardstown Fen, Viking Hogback grave, Conolly Folly, Maynooth Castle, Kildare Cathedral and Round Tower, Grey Abbey, the Court House Athy, the Moat of Ardscull, Oughterard Graveyard, Donadea Forest Park, River Liffey & Newbridge College, Moone High Cross, White's Castle and Crom Abu Bridge, Castletown House, Abbey Bridge & Grand Canal, Grand Canal and lifting bridge, Curragh Military Cemetery, and St James Church of Ireland.