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From dark skies to Dublin's lost prisons: Sixteen events to check out this National Heritage Week

The annual heritage week takes a hybrid approach this year, with events in-person and online.

ANNUAL HERITAGE WEEK is well under way and event organisers around the country taking a hybrid approach this year. You and your family have the opportunity to experience Ireland’s heritage sites across the country or from the comfort of your own home.

Heritage week is a yearly celebration of Ireland’s built, natural and cultural heritage and aims to promote an awareness and appreciation of those resources. While there may be be lots to learn, there is also plenty of fun to be had by all.

Heritage week kicked off on Saturday 14 August but don’t worry it runs until Sunday 22 August so there are plenty of events, both online and in-person, to be enjoyed. You can look for events happening in your own area here and we’ve put together a collection of some of the most interesting below.

  • Get in touch with the wild side: Rewilding has become a central topic in discussions about conservation. In this online event, Dr Paul Jepson, Nature Recovery Lead with Ecosulis will take virtual attendees through the need for rewilding and its part in restoring nature. Taking place from 2pm to 3pm Friday 20 August online tickets are available here.

 

  • Riverside art: On Sunday 22 August from 2pm until 5pm, Sligo Tidy Towns are inviting people of all ages to paint Sligo’s Garavogue river. You don’t need to be Monet to attend, all ages and abilities can come along to take part in some riverside art. Booking is required as places are limited.

 

shutterstock_757737736 Garavogue river, Sligo Shutterstock / Lucky Team Studio Shutterstock / Lucky Team Studio / Lucky Team Studio

  • Wooly situations: In Co Galway, Irish fibre crafters have a mission to share their love of local Irish wool, to do this they are holding workshops to get people crafting with wool. Highlights include spinning from 1pm to 3pm on Thursday 19 and weaving at the same time on Friday 20, booking is required.

 

  • A mountainous feat: If you enjoy hill walking then this one’s for you. Geologist Maria Cullen and botanist Howard Fox will be leading a walk up Dough Mountain, North Co Leitrim. You will have the chance to soak up the gorgeous views and take in the rich biodiversity of the area. Beginning at 11am on Sunday 22, the walk will take approximately 3 hours.

 

  • South Dublin street art: If you were looking for a street art tour you might not have expected to find it in Dún Laoghaire. Nevertheless, Germain Dalton will tour the area’s art detailing the stories of the artists and their work. The event takes place on Friday 20 at 11am, booking is required. 

 

  • Willow weaving workshop: Willow trees aren’t just pretty to look at, they are also extremely versatile. At this workshop under expert guidance you will be shown how to craft a traditional willow rattle in half an hour. Taking place at Future Forests, Kealkil, Co Cork on Saturday 21 August, booking is required.

1734BD3E-168F-43FE-BA17-55065840A5BD A traditional willow rattle

  • Authors and playwrights: The country of poets and playwrights brings you the tour to showcase some of Galway city’s finest. Tour guide Brendan Hynes will take you on a journey recalling the tales of Galway’s literature, theatre and famous faces. Kicking off at 1.30 pm on Sunday 22, booking is required.

 

  • Donegal discoveries: Taking place at Glenveagh National Park, the event will not only feature a walk through Donegal’s scenic terrain but will also ask questions about how our ancestors shaped the land and impacted nature in the area. Both walks are approximately 4 to 5 kilometres, waterproof footwear and suitable clothing will be needed. The event takes place on Wednesday 18 at 10 am and 2pm, booking is required.

 

shutterstock_1891137448 Glenveagh National Park, Co Donegal Shutterstock / Irina Wilhauk Shutterstock / Irina Wilhauk / Irina Wilhauk

  • Lock ‘em up!: Kilmainham Gaol is widely known across the country but lesser-known are the numerous lost prisons that operated throughout Dublin. Tours of lost prisons in the north of the city will be taking place at 12 pm Thursday 19 and Friday 20. For lost prisons in the south of the city, separate tours on the same days are taking place. Booking is required to secure your place. 

 

  • In a galaxy far, far away: For all the astronomers out there, from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19, Dark Sky Ireland is hosting a series of online events to discuss different themes of dark skies. Taking place at 5pm each day you can book your place here.

 

  • Historic Bantry: This photographic exhibition and walking tour will take you through the centuries-old history of Bantry, Co Cork. Taking place on Wednesday 12pm, booking is required.

 

  • Knights in training: An online workshop tailored to children aged from 6 to 12 years old will take mini adventurers on a quest to make an Anglo-Norman shield. Featuring magical storytelling crafts and some historical facts this event is sure to keep little ones entertained. Taking place on Sunday 22 at 2pm, online booking is required. 

 

  • Through the artistic lens: Taking place on Friday 20 at 6pm, this online talk by the National Gallery of Ireland looks at a selection of art through an LGBTQIA+ lens. Booking for the event is required

 

shutterstock_100292306 Portumna Castle Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider / Patryk Kosmider

  • Capture the castle: This real-life treasure hunt in Co Galway will allow the whole family to search for clues hidden throughout Portumna town, the old priory ruins and sentry towers in a quest to find the key to the castle. Booking is required for the event, which takes place on Wednesday from 12pm to 4pm.

 

  • Georgian mansions: On Sunday 22 visitors will be able to take part in free tours of Kings House situated in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Dating back to 1720, the mansion offers a delve into the past with collections displaying both Irish history and art. Booking is required, with tours taking place from 11am to 3pm.

 

  • Buzzing along: Saving the bees has never been more important, with this in mind in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, you will be able to hear about how to make your garden bee and butterfly friendly. Taking place on Wednesday 18 from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, booking is required.

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    Mute Ann Illing
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    Jun 29th 2011, 1:32 PM

    And the government is talking of heaping more taxes etc on people later in the year. They should cop on & realise you cant tax your way out of a recession. Consumers will spend less and less as the cuts go deeper.

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    Mute Thomas Stadler
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    Jun 29th 2011, 1:34 PM

    Don’t worry people, your money and future are going to bailout out private businesses, that were mismanaged, often criminally so, and who in any normal country would have had their bondholders burnt. The irony of the a left wing party, the Shinners pointing out what is a correct thing for capitalism to do, and be backed in that by the world’s leading economists against the so called economic realists of FG and FF, whose actions are considered crazed by most of the world’s leading investors and economists. The thing is that those economists are looking at FG and FF from their own experiences, they are not aware that FG and FF will and have repeatedly driven this economy in to the mud to protect and enrich a very small no. of people that are their friends and donors. Half the population have had to lave since the foundation of the state, brought to edge of bankruptcy 4 times in 50 years, both parties are unique in the western world, having both quadrupled state debt.

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    Mute Paul Ibbs
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    Jun 29th 2011, 3:04 PM

    Heard on the radio that we consumers are unwilling to part with our cash – cash? What cash???

    and

    “Michael Noonan recently urged the Irish public to get and spend” – spend what?!

    25
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    Mute john
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    Jun 29th 2011, 2:46 PM

    It just shows how out of touch these politicians are,I barely have enough money to be able to cover my mortgage and buy groceries for the month .. ,,it really is getting to the stage where I would be better off claiming welfare..taxing the hell out of us isnt the way forward.

    25
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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Jun 29th 2011, 1:44 PM

    This grand for him is say get out and spend and on the other side Richard Bruton is planning on cutting pay to the low paid workers.

    Again this government and previous one alike fail to understand that it is the low & middle income earners that spend their money in the local economy but for some reason they continue to impose higher taxes etc. onto them.

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    Mute Tonacatecuhtli
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    Jun 29th 2011, 4:53 PM

    Speaking of consumer sentiment, I didn’t see The Journal cover the EU story yesterday from a Euro stat report showing that Irish people paid more for pretty much everything from alcohol, tobacco and groceries to hotels than most other EU countries. Might have something to do with consumer sentiment?

    23
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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Jun 29th 2011, 10:36 PM

    What’s new?

    2
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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Jun 29th 2011, 2:37 PM

    There is no direction out there . Until we see stability in EU we will be afraid to spend.

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    Mute Paul McMahon
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    Jun 29th 2011, 4:04 PM

    I spent €60 in B&Q yesterday so your welcome Mr Noonan…

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    Mute Kieran Magennis
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    Jun 29th 2011, 5:26 PM

    I have a plan. The government should appoint one ridiculously upbeat, one nagging, and one burly Confidence Fairy! on every street.

    The upbeat one will come to your door first. She will tell you how great you are, and how everything is going to turn out just fine, remind you we have close friends like Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth rooting for us, and try to convince you to start living the high life again.

    The nagging one will be next. She will tell you that you have seriously failed as a father by not going to the pub, not changing the car, not having a family holiday (in Mayo), and because you insist on your wife buying own-brand stuff in Tesco.

    If these don’t get you spending again then the burly Confidence Fairy! will come to your door smelling of strong liquor. He will grab you by the scruff of the neck and drag you to the nearest ATM. He will kick you in the posterior repeatedly until you have withdrawn €1,000. He will then drag you to the pub and shout THE DRINKS ARE ON…you.

    He will then drag you to every Celtic Fiasco business in your local area and kick you until you have spent all your hard earned money on vouchers for coffee shops, spas, hairdressers, dental hygienists, aromatherapy and reflexology, and on deposits for soffits, wall insulation and cobble-lock paving.

    Sounds far-fetched?

    Remember that pension thingy you were saving for old age?

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    Mute Paul
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    Jun 29th 2011, 9:26 PM

    The gov must think the people of ireland are like ATMs just put in there hands and take out what ever they want

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    Mute Simon Moore
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    Jun 30th 2011, 8:12 AM

    You kind of need money to spend it in the first place, maybe that’s why people are not spending??? Just a thought!

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    Mute stephen oneill
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    Jun 30th 2011, 8:58 AM

    YO NOONAYS ,SPEND SPEND SPEND EHY!!!!!!you must honestly think were gobshits DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE GREEK FOR OUR DAY IS COMMING

    1
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