Ballyhoura Country Announces its National Heritage Week 2022 Events
National Heritage Week, this year celebrating the full return of in-person events, takes place across Ireland from Saturday 13th
August to Sunday 21st August, and Ballyhoura Country – situated at the crossroads of Limerick, Cork and Tipperary – marks this vibrant celebration of culture with a jam-packed schedule of free events celebrating the region’s history, art, heritage and biodiversity. With a range of indoor and outdoor activities – plenty of them family-oriented and for those on staycations – there is something to pique everyone’s interest in the beautiful region in the heart of the Golden Vale of Munster.
Ballyhoura’s history – from ancient to modern – is well-represented on the schedule. Lough Gur, well-known for its rich collection of stone circles, tombs and ringforts, also harbours the mystery of Cladh na Leac, the ancient pathway just 200m from Ireland’s largest stone circle. On 17th August, from 7.30-8.30pm, Brian Collopy of Lough Gur Development, presents a talk in the Lough Gur Visitor Centre, the culmination of his many years of research and tour-guiding in the area, shining a light on one of the region’s lesser-known ancient monuments. TO BOOK: 0872852022 / [email protected] / Eventbrite
For a full list of Heritage Week events in Lough Gur visit their website: https://loughgur.com/heritage-...
Staying deep in Ballyhoura’s rich, ancient past, scholar and author Dr Donncha MacGabhann is offering Guided Tours of the Book of Kells (the Verlag version is an exact copy of the manuscript) at St John’s Church, Knockainey, Co Limerick. This interactive experience begins with a general introduction to the Book of Kells and continues by exploring the main features of the manuscript. Daily from August 15th–19th, 7pm-8.30pm. TO BOOK: [email protected]
Did you know that Mitchelstown’s rich tapestry of culture and history dates back to the 7th century? Seamus Fox presents the Mitchelstown Darkness Walking Tour on 14th August, a 2-hour exploration of some of the town’s notable features and people, including the 7th century St Fanahan, Ireland's biggest silk farm, the site of Ireland’s largest castle, the best Georgian squares outside of Dublin, croquet, lawn tennis and of course, British PM Gladstone’s famous words, "Remember Mitchelstown", noting its use as a rallying cry for Irish men and women fighting for Irish freedom. The tour starts at Clongibbon Hotel, 9-11am, TO BOOK: 087-3589734
The 12th August 2022 marks 100 years since the burning of Mitchelstown Castle, the biggest house in Ireland ever to burn down. The Doomed Inheritance Conference, from 12th-14th August, marks this centenary, and explores this and other key events from August 1922 which were intrinsic to the Civil War, particularly in the North Cork region. It takes place in St George’s Arts and Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown. TO BOOK: ibit.ly/OYQP
On Sunday 21st August at 2.30pm, there is a wonderful Guided Tour of Doneraile Park and Gardens. It’s a close collaboration between the OPW, Visit Ballyhoura, knowledgeable Doneraile Tour Guides, and incredibly talented members of the Doneraile Drama Society Group, who will be narrating some of the Estate's history in period costumes, dressed as characters from the estate's history such as Edmund Spenser, Queen Elizabeth I, and Elizabeth St Leger, The Lady Freemason. Come and enjoy this beautiful event filled with pageantry, history, and storytelling set in the majestic Doneraile Estate's surroundings. TO BOOK: https://tinyurl.com/54apvzdm
You can have fun trying out your ‘cúpla focal’ on Saturday 13th August from 7-8.30pm starting at the Church of Ireland in Bruff, and enjoy “Cómhrá, Ceol agus Stair ag Tobar Uí Choilleann / Chat, Music and Local History at Collins Well”. The walk and talk is from the old Church of Ireland, Bruff to Collins' Well, and encourages people to chat with each other in Irish to the best of their ability, followed by ‘the craic’ with a traditional sing song. This event is kindly supported by LAWPRO, Local Authorities Water Programme and hosted by Bruff Tidy Towns. All welcome no matter level of Irish language ability or none. Just be sure to bring your singing voice! TO BOOK: 0872145284 / [email protected]
“Painting in the Park” – a free art class in the Morningstar Park facilitated by local artist Kathy Tiernan and kindly supported by LAWPRO, takes place on 16th August from 6.30pm-8pm. Capture the beautiful and newly-restored Morningstar River, or various heritage focal points seen from the Park such as Church of Ireland, Two Bridges, Washerwomen's Stones, Carberry Arms (Victorian Quarter), Adelaide House. Bring your preferred equipment/media and settle in for an evening of painting under the guidance of our artist or under your own steam!
For a full list of Heritage Week events in Bruff, follow Thomas Fitzgerald Facebook Page.
The Maigue Rivers Trust invites you to discover the natural heritage of the Mahore River in Hospital, Co. Limerick on Wednesday 17th August from 7 - 8pm. The Trust also teams up with Charleville Tidy Towns Group and offers you the opportunity to discover the natural heritage of Charleville Stream on Thursday 18th Aug. 7-8pm. Both events are free and are being supported by LAWPRO, Mary Immaculate College and Analog Devices. DETAILS: www.maiguerivertrust.ie
Ballyhoura Outdoor Classroom Wildlife Tour, an all-ages free tour of the plants and animals found at Griston Bog takes place as part of National Heritage Week on Monday August 15th. Find out about the wildlife found only in one of our oldest environments; see examples of unique and beautiful local plants; and learn about our shy local lizard. Take part in an ecology scavenger hunt and see how many different plants or animals you can find! The event starts at 10am and running until 12pm. Book ONLINE, email [email protected] or phone 063 91300.
Espcially for the kids during Heritage Week, Kilmallock’s lovely Friar’s Gate Theatre is showing the 2021 Oscar-nominated Pixar movie, “Luca” at 2.30pm on Tuesday 16th August. TO BOOK: 063-98727 or [email protected]
Giuseppe Giordano, a local Ballyhoura and Failte Ireland Tour Guide and a member of ATGI (Approved Tourist Guides of Ireland), will take you on a tour of Medieval Kilmallock. There are two tours on the 21st August, the first one from 10am - 12pm and the second one from 2pm - 4pm, starting at the car park near the 15th century King's John Castle. To book and reserve a space for your guided tour call or email Giuseppe. Languages available are Italian, English, French and Spanish. More info: https://www.heritageweek.ie/ev...
Meanwhile, The Inaugural Sean Clarach Summer School, a joint venture between Charleville Heritage Society and Churchtown, is taking place on the 19th & 20th of August. Jacobite Poet Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill was born in Churchtown, but he spent most of his adult life in Charleville, and he died there and is buried in the local Holy Cross Cemetery. No bookings are required for this event; just turn up on the Saturday morning at the Charleville Park Hotel and/or to Churchtown on the evening before. The following is their programme: https://visitballyhoura.com/ev...
For those looking for more relaxing and peaceful way of spending Heritage Week, Suaimhneas sna Coillte is a unique weekend-long series of events set in the idyllic surroundings of Glengarra Mountain Lodge in Glengarra Wood. This festival of peace and harmony, set amongst the natural habitats that lie on our doorstep, encourages us to appreciate the presence of the lodge in the forest by bridging the use of the forest and Mountain Lodge together through a quartet of combined elements; nature, heritage, creative practice and wellbeing.
Several free and ticketed events are scheduled throughout the weekend, and booking is essential.
TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA EVENTBRITE
For full details of Suaimhneas sna Coillte please visit the event page @glengarralodge
The 66th Cappamore Agricultural Show, back after a 2-year absence, takes place on Saturday 20th August. Running since 1954, it is one of Ireland’s leading 1-day shows, and is very highly regarded among exhibitors and regular show supporters throughout the Munster region, as well as nationally. It incorporates displays and competitions in cookery, crafts, agricultural and horticultural produce, as well as in the traditional skills, arts and crafts of the region, in addition to more traditional show sections such as cattle and horse showing, and jumping classes. Free children's entertainment will also be provided on the day. FOR INFORMATION: +353 61 381444
or [email protected]
One of the demonstration events at the Cappamore Show will be Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board’s resident master blacksmith Eric O Neill delivering a demonstration of Traditional and Modern Forging Skills: the skillset, working conditions and tools of the blacksmithing trade will be on display in a specially-designed forging space. A range of decorative pieces and tools will be made on the day on-site. Following on from this, Eric will also deliver a 4-Day Traditional Toolmaking Course to novice blacksmiths in the Cappamore Campus of the College of Further Education and Training
from 15-18th August, while the following day the forge at the campus will open its doors and welcome members of the public in to view the facility and experience a live forging demonstration once again by Eric O’Neill. Both traditional and modern forging techniques will be demonstrated on the open day. FOR INFORMATION: 061-381272 or [email protected]
There’s so much to explore during Heritage Week in Ballyhoura Country - where will your feeling take you?
