Clare to host 75 events during Heritage Week

75 separate events ranging from nature walks to history lectures will take place across County Clare during National Heritage Week 2014 from August 23rd to August 31st.

Co-ordinated by Clare County Council and The Heritage Council with support from the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and Fáilte Ireland, the annual initiative will once again focus on Clare’s built, natural & cultural heritage.

Some of the highlights of Heritage Week 2014 include a commemoration of the life of submarine inventor and Liscannor native John P Holland, a tour of towerhouses around Shannon Town, a lecture on the life of an Kilrush-born Boer War General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny, a Victorian Heritage Walk around Kilkee, a tour of Lisdoonvarna's famous restorative waters, and a recital of traditional Irish tunes on the Uilleann Pipes by Matt Horsely at Ennis Friary.

The centenary of the outbreak of World War One is also being marked with a lecture by historian Cormac O Comhrai's on life in Ireland during the Great War, while Killaloe will also be marking the millennial anniversary of the death of one of its most famous citizens, Brian Ború.  Meanwhile, annual festivals such as the Tulla Week of Welcomes and the Dan Furey Weekend in Labasheeda are holding heritage events as part of the weeklong celebration.

Cllr. John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council commented: "I wish to pay tribute to the many individuals and community organisations that are participating in and contributing to Heritage Week 2014. I would urge people to support the events happening in their community and learn a little about their heritage and history."

Speaking ahead of Heritage Week 2014, Clare Heritage Officer Congella McGuire stated: “Clare County Council, The Heritage Council and the Clare Heritage Forum are extremely grateful to the individuals and community groups who are taking part and facilitating events during Heritage Week 2014. This is one of the most wide-ranging Heritage Week programmes ever hosted in Clare with 75 events evenly spread throughout Clare."

"We are delighted to see that a large number of events are catering for people of all ages, therefore providing children with an ideal opportunity to enjoy the end of their summer holidays before returning to school at the end of the month. Furthermore, many events organised are free of charge and National Heritage sites also offer concession rates during the week itself," Ms. McGuire added.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS, HERITAGE WEEK 2014

Recurring Events:
-    Free guided tours of St. Senan’s Monastery on Scattery Island (10am-4pm, Sat 23rd - Sun 31 August) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/scatteryislandcentre
-    Butterfly Hunt at Vandeleur Walled Garden in Kilrush (Sat 23 Aug & Sun 31 Aug 12-4:30pm, Mon 25 Aug to Fri 29 Aug 10am-4:30pm) - www.vandeleurwalledgarden.ie
-    Heritage Garden and Orchard Trail Week at Irish Seed Savers Visitor Centre in Scarriff (Sat 23 Aug 12:30-4:30pm, Tue 26 Aug 9:30am-4:30pm, Wed 27 Aug 9:30am-4:30pm, Thur 28 Aug 9:30am-4:30pm, Fri 29 Aug 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat 30 Aug 12:30-4:30pm) -  www.irishseedsavers.ie

Saturday, 23 August 2014:
-    Events celebrating Brian Boru & the O'Brien Clan at the Cliffs of Moher (9am-5pm) - www.cliffsofmoher.ie
-    Loop Head Heritage Trail (10am-midday) - www.thelongwayround.ie
-    Mini Beast Hunt for children (aged 4-10) in the Burren National Park (10.30am-12.30pm) - www.burrennationalpark.ie
-    The Music Makers of West Clare at Aras Oidreacht an Chláir in Miltown Malbay (10am-6pm) - www.themusicmakers.ie
-    Village Carnival and Heritage & Biodiversity Day in Newmarket on Fergus  (10am-6pm) - www.villagecarnival.com
-    The Merchant’s House Open Day in Kilrush (11.30am-3.30pm) - pg30kensington@gmail.com / 0876831587
-    Dan Furey Weekend feat. Historical tour of Battery Peninsula (1.30pm)and Norwegian Folk Dancing (3-6pm) - www.danfurey.ie
-    Heritage Cycle of Loop Head (midday-2pm) - www.purecamping.ie
-    Cup of Tea, Songs & Stories at Kilkishen Heritage Centre (4-6pm) - www.kilkishen.com
-    A recital of traditional Irish tunes on the Uilleann Pipes played by Matt Horsely at Ennis Friary (5-6pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/ennis friary
-    Lecture on Kilrush-born General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny (1840–1914) followed by exhibition at Teach Ceoil, Kilrush (6-7pm) - www.kdhs.ie

Sunday, 24 August 2014:
-    Open Day at Loop Head Lightkeeper's House (10am-4pm) - www.irishlandmark.com
-    Dan Furey Weekend feat.  Parade, Norweigan Folk Dancers and Lord Edward’s re-enactment group (1.30pm) - www.danfurey.ie
-    Tour of local towerhouses in the vicinity of Shannon Town, including Smithstown, Drumline, Clenagh, Rossmanagher, Ralahine (1-5.30pm) - www.clareheritage.org / www.duchasnasionna.eu
-    A Walk to the Mass Rock & Cross on the Black Mountain, Ennistymon (1-3pm) - www.thecourthousegallery.com
-    Free Guided Tour of the Clare Heritage & Genealogy Centre (2-3pm) - www.clareroots.com
-    Interesting sites in the Kilmurry Ibrickane Parish inc. St Conall's Well, Mountscott Crannóg, Rath Ringfort, and Cillíns at Moyglass and Tiermanagh (2-3pm) - banshans@iol.ie / 087-1264527
-    Whale Watch Ireland 2014 at Loophead Lighthouse (2-5pm) - www.iwdg.ie
-    Whale Watch Ireland 2014 at Black Head Lighthouse (2-5pm) - www.iwdg.ie
-    Killaloe Heritage Walk (3-4.30pm) - unakierse@gmail.com / 086 8035157
-    Victorian Heritage Walk of Kilkee (3-4pm) - www.thelongwayround.ie
-    Lecture on 'Life in Ireland during World War One' by historian and author Cormac O Comhrai at Ennis Friary (6.30-8pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/ennisfriary

Monday, 25 August 2014:
-    Seaweeds and Shore Fauna Forage at Ross Beach (11am-2pm) - www.carmelmadigangallery.com
-    Free lecture on Scattery Island in the Viking Era by author and historian Dr. Cathy Swift, Mary Immaculate College (7.30-9pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/scatteryislandcentre

Tuesday, 26 August 2014:
-    Seaweeds and Shore Fauna Forage at Ross Beach (11.30am-2.30pm) - www.carmelmadigangallery.com
-    Free public lecture at Ennis Friary by OPW Architect Grellan Rourke on the archaeology, history and architecture of Skellig Micheal, Kerry (7.30-9pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/ennisfriary
-    Genealogy Talk with Gerry Kennedy of the Clare Roots Society at De Valera Public Library, Ennis (7-8pm) - www.clarelibrary.ie
-    Talk & Walk on Natural Heritage of Lough Derg followed by visit to Mountshannon Pier to view the White-tailed Sea Eagles  (8-10pm) - cmcguire@clarecoco.ie / 087 4128536

Wednesday, 27 August 2014:
-    Free Guided Tour of the Clare Heritage & Genealogy Centre, Corofin (11am-midday) - www.clareroots.com
-    A walk in the Burren for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility (11am-3pm) - www.burrenbeo.com
-    Genealogy talk and Q&A with Gerry Kennedy of the Clare Roots Society at Sean Lemass Public Library in Shannon (1-2pm) - www.clarelibrary.ie
-    'Come here till I tell ya' with Cuimhneamh an Chláir at Kilrush Public Library (6.30-7.30pm) - www.clarelibrary.ie
-    Quin Friary and Earthworks Outing (7-8.30pm) - emgreene@eircom.net / 0879165916
-    Dysert O'Dea Guided Walk & Heritage Trail (7-8.30pm) - ruacronin@clarecoco.ie / 087 290512
-    Bat Talk and Walk for all age at Dromoland (7.30-8.30pm) - clare.antaisce@gmail.com / 086 349 7946
-    Screening of Neville Presho’s  ‘A Horse’s Tale’ at the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon (8-10pm) - www.thecourthousegallery.com
-    Burren National Park Bat Talk and Walk, Corofin (8-10pm) - www.burrennationalpark.ie

Thursday, 28 August 2014:
-    Public lecture by Dr. Jill Connaughton on the iconography and medieval figure sculpture of Ennis Friary (2-3.30pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/ennisfriary
-    'Come here till I tell ya' with Cuimhneamh an Chláir at Kilfinaghty Public Library, Sixmilebridge (6.30-7.30pm) - www.clarelibrary.ie
-    Lecture by historian Padraig O’Ruairc on 'The Round Towers of County Clare' at Teach Ceol, Kilrush (7.30-9pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/scatteryislandcentre
-    Shannon Town Bat Walk (9-10.30pm) - www.clarebatgroup.webs.com

Friday, 29 August 2014:
-    Clarecastle Village History Trail and Quay Area Wildlife (7-8.30pm) - marieclaregorman@gmail.com
-    Tulla Weekend of the Welcomes (8-10pm) -  www.irelandxo.com/group/tulla-clare

Saturday, 30 August 2014:
-    Birdwatching Walk – An Introduction to the Birdlife in the Burren National Park, Kilnaboy (8-9.30am) - ww.burrennationalpark.ie
-    Music, historic, heritage and athletic events for all ages at Tulla Weekend of the Welcomes (10:30am-11.30pm) -  www.irelandxo.com/group/tulla-clare
-    History of Quin Friary (10.30am-1pm) - seosamh33@eircom.net / ennisfriary@opw.ie
-    Musical celebration reflecting Ennis Friary's royal and religious origins. Harp recital by Nora Casey and Lorraine Kelly, followed by evening prayer sung by members of the local Franciscan community (5-6pm) - www.heritageireland.ie/en/ennisfriary

Sunday, 31 August 2014:
-     Loop Head Heritage Trail (10am-midday) - www.thelongwayround.ie
-    The Music Makers of West Clare at Oidhreacht an Chláir, Miltown Malbay (10am-6pm) - www.themusicmakers.ie
-    John P. Holland Commemoration (12.30-4pm) - princeblake@eircom.net 
-    Free Guided Tour of the Clare Heritage & Genealogy Centre in Corofin (2-3pm) - www.clareroots.com
-    Historical Spa Wells and Tour of Lisdoonvarna's Famous Waters (2-4pm) - lisdoonfailte@eircom.net / 086 1250111
-    Tulla Weekend of the Welcomes  (2-8pm) - www.irelandxo.com/group/tulla-clare
-    Victorian Heritage Walk of Kilkee (3-4pm) - www.thelongwayround.ie
-    Guided Walk of Scattery Island  (3-7pm) - cmgcuire@clarecoco.ie / 087 4128536

Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Download the free "National Heritage Week" App for iPhone or Android smartphones at www.heritageweek.ie., For further information contact Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co.Clare, at Tel: 065-6846408 / Email: cmcguire@clarecoco.ie.
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