Posted 17/08/2020

Heritage Week 15th to 23rd August 2020

Heritage Week 2020 goes online in Kildare

National Heritage Week runs from Saturday 15th August to Sunday 23rd August.

Projects and Booking

Heritage Week will be marked locally in Kildare by a series of heritage projects developed by groups across Kildare and promoted online via www.heritageweek.ie.

Local heritage groups and organisers, families and communities across the country have developed projects around this year's theme of 'Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage'. The theme is designed to promote the sharing of experience and knowledge, while ensuring the country's heritage is more inclusive than ever in restricted times.

Based on this year's theme, projects were developed around three broad sub-themes: Heritage of your doorstep; heritage and education; and relearning skills from our heritage. All projects shared via the Heritage week website before the end of August will be considered for a National Heritage Week Award.

People should be aware online booking will be required for many events.

Heritage Week Events

Discover some of the Heritage Week events happening in Kildare:

"If These Walls Could Talk" - Webinar

Behind the stone walls of the long standing workhouse are stories untold. On August 20th at 7.00pm, join the General Paints Group for a webinar where local historian, Cathi Fleming, will be speaking of the construction of the workhouse; a day in the life in the workhouse; the lesser known history of Celbridge hosting Belgian refugees; the building's life as an infirmary; and finally the modern usage of this incredible building. 

"Exploring Buildings of Ireland; Cork, Kildare, Laois and Offaly"

This year, projects for National Heritage Week have embraced a variety of digital and online formats, providing innovative ways to explore Ireland's diverse heritage - from online talks and exhibitions, to virtual tours, podcasts, videos and blogs. This focus brings communities together by allowing the public to discover and explore national heritage treasures from their own homes.

In partnership with the Buildings of Ireland Charitable Trust the IAA will present a short series of Lectures exploring the most recent contents in the Buildings of Ireland Series. 

"Bee Keeping live".

Due to the pandemic, North Kildare Beekeepeers' Association are bringing beekeeping online like never before! On the Saturday, 15th August they will be hosting a Live Pollinator Walk with experts in honeybee and other pollinators. We will get a look through the plants and pollinators available that day with live feedback via the messages function.

Virtual tour of heritage and historical sites in Milltown  

This virtual tour of the village will feature: the beautiful church with all its history, including famine pot and remembrance garden; the heritage centre which is full of artefacts and old documents relating to the area; the old Mill which gave Milltown its name; pollards town fen and the infamous canal bank walks; and new addition to the village this year - a beautiful replicate of an old mill wheel.  

Managing your community garden for pollinators  

In a world where pollinators are threatened by manicured lawns, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council is investigating an alternative cost and time effective method of enhancing the numbers of pollinators in your garden through various management regimes. The project aims to understand the link between grassland management and pollinator biodiversity. In an online video that will be shared through the website (www.ipcc.ie) and social media accounts of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, find out the preparation process, methodology and pollinator friendly plants. 

Covid-19 Restrictions

"Given the Covid-19 restrictions on group meetings, this year provides a great opportunity to explore the heritage of Kildare from the comfort of your own home. People can also travel digitally to events in other counties and enjoy heritage across the country” says Bridget Loughlin, Heritage Officer with Kildare County Council."

For more information on Heritage Week events near you, and events happening online, visit www.heritageweek.ie

About National Heritage Week

National Heritage Week is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council as part of European Heritage Days – a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union in which more than 40 countries participate each year. The main aim of European Heritage Days is to promote awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage and to promote Europe’s common cultural heritage.

National Heritage Week is supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and run in association with F&Acute;ilte Ireland. At the county level, National Heritage Week is co-ordinated and supported by local authority heritage officers, their colleagues and with numerous local heritage groups and organisations. Collaborative partners include the Office of Public Works; the Local Authority Water Programme; the Irish Landmark Trust; and the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. Supporting partners include RTE Supporting the Arts and The Irish Times. For more information, visit www.heritageweek.ie


Contact

Bridget Loughlin
Heritage Office, Kildare County Council, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare

Tel:              045 980791

Email:           heritageofficer@kildarecoco.ie

Website:        kildare.ie/countycouncil/Heritage

Facebook:     County Kildare Heritage Office

Twitter:         @Kildareheritage

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