‘Discover the past. Build the future’ is the main theme of Heritage Week 2018 with a record 108 events taking place around County Clare from 18 August to 26 August.
The 16th annual celebration of County Clare’s built, natural and cultural heritage is being coordinated locally by Clare County Council and The Heritage Council, with support from Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The annual initiative is Ireland’s most popular cultural event and this year over 450,000 people nationwide are expected to participate in over 2,000 events aimed at encouraging people to take an interest in their local heritage.
Clare County Council has confirmed that local events taking place include field trips, film screenings, workshops, exhibitions, maritime excursions, historical re-enactments, and local history walks and talks.
Among the events and activities is a tour of The Toomeens cave system in Tulla, a maritime/fishing exhibition focusing on Clarecastle, a boat trip to meet Europe’s largest resident group of bottlenose dolphins, a Guided Heritage Walk along the East Clare Way, a presentation on the history of Doolin, a tour of Inchiquin House in Corofin, and a talk and tour of the Napoleonic Gun Battery on Scattery Island.
Cllr. Michael Begley, Mayor of Clare, said Heritage Week serves as a reminder to the people of Clare of the “wonderful heritage and history that surrounds them while it also introduces younger people to the wealth of local events, attractions and activities that both educate and entertain.”
“A lot of work has gone into putting together a comprehensive programme of events for Heritage Week which is testament to the work being carried out by communities and individuals throughout Clare in promoting Clare’s rich heritage,” Mayor Begley added. “Clare County Council and the organisers of the various events should be commended for the central role they play in conserving and protecting our heritage for future generations.”
Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer with Clare County Council, commented, “This year’s Heritage Week programme offers a record 108 events which we hope will encourage the people of Clare to engage with the heritage of their county. In doing so, we hope to engender a greater sense of awareness and appreciation of Clare’s built and natural heritage, as well as a greater understanding of our shared culture.”
Meanwhile, the Heritage Council is once again hosting the National Heritage Week Awards recognising the work of event organisers and volunteers taking part during Heritage Week 2018. Recipients will be honoured at a Heritage Council Awards Day. Visit www.heritageweek.ie or contact 1850-200878 for more.
Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union.
Programme of Events
West Clare
All Week:
– Dolphins and Local Heritage – Wildlife Adventure, Carrigaholt (8am-6pm): Adult: €30, Child: €15; E: info@dolphinwatch.ie, Website: dolphinwatch.ie
– Loop Head: Free Audio Guide; West Clare Railway, Moyasta (9.30am-5pm): Free; info@abartaheritage.ie, abartaheritage.ie
– Daily Guided Tours of Scattery Island, Scattery Island, Kilrush (10am-5pm): Free; info@scatteryislandtours.com, scatteryislandtours.com
– Kayaking along Wild Atlantic Way, Kilkee Bay, Nevsail’s Hut, Kilkee (2.30pm-5pm): Adult: €25, Child: €25; info@nevsailwatersports.ie; nevsailwateersports.ie
Saturday 18 August
– Gardening for Wildlife, West Clare Resource Centre, Ballard Road, Miltown Malbay (10am-1pm): Free; IWT, jimmartin81@gmail.com
Sunday 19 August
– Napoleonic Fort Guided Walk, Doonaha Church (1.30pm-3pm): Adult: €5, Child Free; haugh.carmel@gmail.com
– An Exhibition of Kilrush Ceramics, Teach Ceoil, Grace Street, Kilrush (2pm-5pm): Free; Kilrush and District Historical Society, kilrushhistoricalsociety@gmail.com, kdhs.ie
– In search of the Dreamtime on Scattery Island (Guided Tour, 2pm-2.45pm): Free (fee payable for boat trip); OPW Scattery Island Visitor Centre, Kilrush, info@scatteryislandtours.com, scatteryislandtours.com
Monday 20 August
– Loop Head Geology Walk, Bridges of Ross, Loop Head (10.30am-midday): Free; anthea.lacchia@icrag-centre.org, icrag-centre.org
Wednesday 22 August
– Community life in Miltown 1930-80, Malbay Hotel, Miltown Malbay (8pm-10pm): Free; Oidhreacht an Chláir, seamus.macmathuna@oegaillimh .ie, oac.ie
– “Guarding Loophead” – Talk on World War 2 look-out posts, Kilkee Library (8pm-9pm): Free; Kilkee Civic Trust, willkee@iol.ie
Saturday 25 August
– Labasheeda’s link to the Great War – Historical Talk with Music and Song, St. Kieran’s Community Centre, Labasheeda (3pm-5pm): Free; Dan Furey Set Dancing Weekend, mcdonaghst@hotmail.com, clare.ie/event/dan-furey-weekend-of-set-dancing
– Loop Head Geology Walk, Bridges of Ross (11am-12.30pm): Free; ICRAG (Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences) – University, anthea.lacchia@icrag-centre.org, icrag-centre.org
– Whale Watch Ireland 2018, Loop Head Lighthouse (2pm-5pm): Free; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, simon.berrow@iwdg.ie, iwdg.ie
– Whale Watch Ireland 2018, Black Head Lighthouse (2pm-5pm): Free; Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, simon.berrow@iwdg.ie, iwdg.ie
– Tour of the Kilkerrin Peninsula, St. Kieran’s Community Centre, Labasheeda (1pm-3pm): Free; Dan Furey Set Dancing Weekend, mcdonaghst@hotmail.com, clare.ie/event/dan-furey-weekend-of-set-dancing
– Tours of the Merchant’s House, The Market Square, Kilrush (2pm-4pm): Free; info@gleesonskilrush.ie, gleesonskilrush.ie
Sunday 26 August
– Open Day at Loop Head House, Loop Head Lightkeeper’s House, Kilbaha (10am-4pm): Free; Irish Landmark Trust, caroline@irishlandmark.com, irishlandmark.com
– River of Life Walk, Meet in Vandeleur Car Park, Kilrush (2pm-3.30pm): Free; Kilrush Tidy Towns, carolinebolton7@icloud.com, kilrushtidytowns.ie
– Stories from County Clare including tales of Scattery Island, Scattery Island Visitor Centre (2.15pm-4pm): Free; OPW Scattery Island Visitor Centre, info@scatteryislandtours.com, scatteryislandtours.com
North Clare
Saturday 18 August
– “Working Party” – Conservation Workshop, An Cabhail Mhór, Kilnaboy (9am-9pm): Adult: €40, Concession: €25; The Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings (S.P.A.B) Ireland, spabireland@gmail.com, spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Sunday 19 August
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
– Traditional Craft Skills Open Day, An Cabhail Mhór, Kilnaboy (10am-3pm): Free; The Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings (S.P.A.B) Ireland, spabireland@gmail.com, spab.org.uk/about-us/spab-ireland
Monday 20 August
– Farming and Built History Trail, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15.00, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Tuesday 21 August
– The Workhouses of County Clare, Ballyvaughan Community Hall (8pm-9.30pm): Irish Workhouse Centre – Portumna, info@irishworkhousecentre.ie, irishworkhousecentre.ie
– A Ten Million Year Burren Walk, Craggagh, Fanore (10am-1.30pm): Free; Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, edoyle@clarecoco.ie, burrengeopark.ie
– Farming and Built History Trail, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15.00, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; Burren Bushcraft, burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Wednesday 22 August
– Burren Wild Child, family adventure (2pm-4pm): Free; Burrenbeo Trust, aine@burrenbeo.com
– “Who the Hell am I?” – Storytelling with music, dance, song and drama, Royal Spa Hotel, Lisdoonvarna (3.30pm-5pm, 8pm-9.30pm): Adult: €10, Child: €7, Concession: €7, Family: €25; Saol, catrionadvs@gmail.com
– Farming and Built History Trail, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Thursday 23 August
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Friday 24 August
– Medieval Heritage of Doolin – Talk, Ennistymon Public Library (7pm-8pm): Free; Clare County Library, mailbox@clarelibrary.ie, clarelibrary.ie
– Foraging and Folklore, Kilshanny House (11am-2.30pm): Adult: €15.00, Child: Free; , kilshannyhouse@gmail.com, kilshannyhouse.ie
– Come Here I Want You – Humorous exploration of North Clare since the 1950s, Kilshanny House (8pm-10pm): Adult: €10.00
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Saturday 25 August
– Give it a go! – Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers (11AM-3PM): Free; Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers, volunteer@burrenbeo.com, burrenbeo.com
– Kilfenora Timeline Heritage Day, St. Fachnan’s Cathedral, Kilfenora (4pm-6.30pm): Free; The Kilfenora Timeline, kilfenoratimeline@gmail.com
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Sunday 26 August
– Open Day at Inchiquin House, Corofin (10am-4pm): Free; Irish Landmark Trust, caroline@irishlandmark.com, irishlandmark.com
– Exploring Kilmacreehy’s Secrets, Liscannor Harbour, Liscannor (11.30am-4.30pm): Adult: €5, Child: Free; Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society, shannonsociety@gmail.com
– “Burren stories: a roam through time” – Guided Walk, Slieve Carran Nature Reserve, Carran (2pm-4.30pm): Free; Burren National Park – National Parks and Wildlife Service, burrennationalpark@chg.gov.ie, burrennationalpark.ie
– Woodland Coppice & Furniture Making, Glencolumbkille, Burren (10am-12.15pm, 1pm-3.15pm, 4pm-6.15pm): Adult: €15, Child: €8, Concession: €12, Family: €35; burrenbushcraft@gmail.com, burrenbushcraft.com
Shannon & Environs
All Week:
– Bunratty Castle Kayaking Tour: Adult: €40, Child: €40; info@nevsailwatersports.ie, nevsailwatersports.ie
Saturday 18 August
– Shannon Wetland Restoration Project, Shannon (10am-11.30am): Free; olivecarey77@gmail.com
Sunday 19 August
– Guided Walk along parts of the Mid Clare Way, Newmarket-on-Fergus (10am-11.30am): Free; Clare Walks Ltd., info@clarewalks.ie, clarewalks.ie
Wednesday 22 August
– Reconnecting with Celtic Trees, Sean Lemass Public Library, Shannon (2pm-4pm): Free, Clare County Council, mailbox@clarelibrary.ie, clarelibrary.ie
– Stories from the Shannon River and Estuary, Mac’s Barn, Bunratty Castle Folk Park (7.30pm-10.30pm, access from 6.45pom-7.30pm only): Free, Clare County Council, forwardplan@clarecoco.ie
– 12th Annual Bat Meeting and Bat Walk, The Inn at Dromoland (8pm-10pm): Free, Clare Association of An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, clare.antaisce@gmail.com
East Clare
All Week:
– St. Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe – Historic Church Tour (3.30pm-4.30pm): Free; dean@killaloe.anglican.org
Tuesday 21 August
– Song of Granite – a film screening, Scarriff Public Library (8.15pm): Free; Clare County Council, mailbox@clarelibrary.ie, clarelibrary.ie
Wednesday 22 August
– Sharing Memories – Recording of local people, Wood and Bell Café, Main Street, Killaloe (7.30pm-8.30pm): Free; Killaloe-Ballina Local History Society, killaloeballinalhs@gmail.com, killaloeballinalhs.wordpress.com
– Bat Walk, Tuamgraney Village (8.30pm-9.45pm): Free; Tuamgraney Development Association/Tidy Towns, maryjcassidy@hotmail.com
Thursday 23 August
– Tulla Famine Walk, Library Car Park, Main Street, Tulla (7pm-8.30pm): Free; Tulla Reaching Out, info@clarewalks.com, irelandxo.com/Ireland-xo/events
Friday 24 August
– Unveiling of 2018 Féile Brian Ború Sculpture, Killaloe Library (7pm-7.30pm): Free; Féile Brian Ború, info@feilebrianboru.com
– Kiltannon Caves Tour, Tulla (2pm-4pm): Adult: €10, Child: €5, Concession: €5, Family: €25; Pat Harrison, 0868662615
Saturday 25 August
– Kiltannon Caves Tour, Tulla (2pm-4pm): Adult: €10, Child: €5, Concession: €5, Family: €25; Pat Harrison, 0868662615
– Biodiversity Walk, Tobermurragh, Killaloe (10am-10.45am): Free; Ruth Minogue, minogueassociates@gmail.com
Sunday 26 August
– The Great Irish Garden, Irish Seed Savers, Capparoe, Scariff (11am-5pm): Free; info@irishseedsavers.ie, irishseedsavers.ie
Ennis and Environs
Saturday 18 August
– Soldiers of the passion panels in Ennis Friary (3pm-4pm): Free; OPW Ennis Friary, ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
– Guided Heritage Cycle, Quin (10am-1.30am): Free; info@clarewalks.ie, clarewalks.ie
Sunday 19 August
– Visit Ennis Friary (10am-5pm): Free; OPW Ennis Friary, ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
– Medieval Quest at Ennis Friary (Midday-1pm): Free; OPW Ennis Friary, ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
Tuesday 21 August
– Templemaley Church Visit, Ennis (7pm-8pm): Free; Clare Archaeological and Historical Society, fogorman51@gmail.com
– Reconnecting with Celtic Trees, De Valera Public Library, Harmony Row, Ennis (7pm-8pm): Free; Clare County Council, mailbox@clarelibrary.ie, clarelibrary.ie
Wednesday 22 August
– “Cats in the Wall” – Ennis Friary (7pm-8pm): Free; OPW Ennis Friary, ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
Thursday 23 August
– Making Connections – Ennis Town, Clips from times gone by with Paul Carroll of Clare FM, De Valera Library, Harmony Row (1pm-2pm): Free; Cuimhneamh an Chláir, info@clarememories.ie, clarememories.ie
– Your Long Barrelled Gun of the Sea – Exhibition, Men’s Shed (Abbey Hall) Clarecastle (6.45pm-9pm): Free; Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group, cartock@gmail.com
Saturday 25 August
– Non Nobis Domine sing “Ode to Joy”, OPW, Ennis Friary (3pm-3.30pm): Free; ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
Sunday 26 August
– Visit Ennis Friary (10am-5pm): Free; OPW Ennis Friary, ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie
– Your Long Barrelled Gun of the Sea – Exhibition, Men’s Shed (Abbey Hall) Clarecastle (12.45pm-2pm): Free; Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group, cartock@gmail.com
– “Remember Death and Pray for Me” – Tour of Friary Graveyard, OPW Ennis Friary (midday-1pm): Free; ennisfriary@opw.ie, heritageireland.ie