By Ronan Casey
National Heritage Week is fast approaching, with the last week of August the time to immerse yourself in the best of local heritage.
From Saturday August 23 to the following Sunday August 31st there are dozens of events taking place in Westmeath to celebrate the week – and most of them are free!
2014 is the UN 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to celebrate the theme for National Heritage Week 2014 is, ‘Family … generations exploring heritage together’.
There are a wide range of events taking place in Westmeath which the whole family can enjoy, including a special tour of Uisneach, a 75th anniversary tour of Mullingar Cathedral, wetland wildflowers explorations in Moate, a chance to walk the walls of Athlone Castle, a celebration of ceili bands and an exhibition of the big houses of Mullingar.
UISNEACH
On Saturday, August 23rd, you have a great opportunity to get an overview of the Hill of Uisneach, the spiritual centre and one-time capital of Ireland. The tour visits its most significant sites – The Cat Stone, Lough Lugh and the Royal Palace among them – with talks at each. It’s free, from 2pm and more info can be got by emailing info@uisneach.ie
Out in Castlepollard, the Lir Festival is in full swing and on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 there are several events happening in the main square and at Hotel Castlepollard. Email info@hotelcastlepollard.ie for more.
Also happening there is ‘Heartland’, an exhibition at Castlepollard Library by local artists Teresa Doyle and Ursula Meehan. They have responded to rural land and rural ways and their exhibition tracks and traces the patterns of life within the hinterlands of Westmeath.
‘Spark of Genius’, a traveling Library exhibition, celebrating the life and works of the artists, writers and musicians who have made a significant cultural contribution to Westmeath, is at Ballynacargy Library on August 26 and 28 and Killucan Library on August 27 and 29.
Mullingar Library, meanwhile, will host an exhibition devoted to the Big Houses of Mullingar and surrounding areas, drawn from their own collection and on daily from August 23 – 30.
MOATE MATTERS
The golden era of the Ceili Bands is celebrated at Moate Library on Wednesday, August 27, with a talk by Brian Lawler, formerly of the Ardellis Ceili Band. This is happening at 2:30pm and promises to be a great archival talk on the music of Irish rural life.
Also in Moate, National Heritage Week is celebrated all week at Dún Na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park with free day and evening events planned for all the family, exploring nature, wildflowers, and history with genealogy talks and heritage walks of this great facility.
A free nature walk at 3pm on Sunday, August 24, will explore the wildlife of the park, especially its very valuable wetland. On Saturday August 30 at 2pm, there is a ‘wetland wildflowers’ walk and talk which will get you acquainted with what grows in the park’s turlough. Wear your wellies and bring your enthusiam! Full details are available at www.dunnasi.ie with events happening from Tuesday, August 26th.
CHURCH TOURS
A free tour of the Cathedral of Christ the King, as it begins to celebrate its 75th anniversary, is a particular highlight for many. Local historian Ruth Illingworth will be leading the tour, discussing every aspect of the impressive structure and, of course, its upstairs museum. This is happening on Monday, August 25 at 2pm, meeting at the main door of the Cathedral.
Another Mullingar church opening its doors to tours is All Saints Church on Church Avenue with tours at 2pm daily from Monday August 25 to August 30 and also at 7pm on August 26 and 28. Harry Haskins is the organiser and no booking is required.
Other churches opening their doors to tours include St Etchen’s Church, Killucan, with Harry Haskins again organsing tours at 2pm dail from August 25 – 29. Email marric@eircom.net for more info on this historic church, built in 1813 on a monastic site founded in the 6th century. Harry has also organised tours of Church of St Bigseach, Kilbixy, which was built between 1793 and 1798. These tours take place at 7pm daily from August 25 – 29 and at 2pm on August 30 and 31.
WALKING
Another great free event is a unique opportunity to ‘walk the walls’ of Athlone Castle, to learn all about its impressive fortifications through a guided tour. For more on this see www.athlonecastle.ie and the walks take place at 2pm daily on August 25, 26, 28 and 29.
Meanwhile, Directing Tourism in Fore has organised a special free Heritage Week 4k looped Historical Walking Tour along a newly developed route through the valley with spectacular views on Thursday 28th August at 7pm.
Heritage Guide Bartle D’Arcy will talk about the significance of the town of the springs and how it was revered from pre-history to today. Hear about St Feichin founding a monastic community there in 630AD, making Fore a pilgrim’s destination, and learn about Norman Lord Hugh de Lacy’s Benedictine Abbey nearby. Mr D’Arcy will also explain why Fore was deemed a town alien to the English Throne and how after King Henry VIII founded Westmeath he based the county gaol in the town. Manhunts took place over the Ben of Fore on the ‘walk of death’ on the way to Gallows Hill. See how The Seven Wonders have been bringing tourists to the area since Victorian times and find out about the lesser-known Eighth Wonder on the fringe of the Valley.
Meet at 6.45 pm at the car park at Fore NS for a 7pm start. More: info@directingtourism.ie
Ruth Illingworth will be giving a free Transport Tour at Mullingar Railway Station on Sunday, August 24 at 3pm. She will also be giving free walking tours detailing the history of Mullingar on August 26 – 28 at 2pm daily. For more on these contact her at ruthillingworthmullingar@gmail.com
Guided tours throughout the week, with a charge attached, include Belvedere House, Gardens and Park and Tullynally Castle.
MYSTERY
Athlone’s mysterious Masonic Hall opens its doors to the public on August 23 and 30 from 10am and this is your chance to see just how secret the Freemasons really are. For more on this email johnsymes@eircom.net
The role of the RIC and related police forces is the subject of a talk by renowned expert Jim Herlihy at Fore Abbey Coffee Shop on Friday, August 29 at 8pm. Admission including refreshments to this is €5.
All in all, a packed week. See www.heritageweek.ie for full information.
