Heritage Week 2011
Heritage Week 2011
Report on Heritage Week in Mayo (Aug 20th Aug 28th 2011)
A week long celebration of who we are and where we've come from, National Heritage Week is an integral part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union. The principal aims of Heritage Week are to foster awareness of the built, cultural, and natural heritage, thereby encouraging it's conservation and preservation, and to raise awareness of our shared Heritage.
Hundreds of people availed of the oppurtunity to enjoy Mayo's rich heritage throughout the week, and the events taking place were both enjoyable and educational. There were oppurtunities to enjoy the rugged and beautiful scenery of the county with guided walks in Foxford and Mulranny, to take part in guided historical tours in Ballinrobe and Westport, partake in an archaeological dig in Foxford, and experience wildlife in Old Head and Ballycroy. Wonderful exhibitions were held in Foxfod and Castlebar. Other events included a basket making demonstration in Knock, road bowling in Turlough and Achill Yawl racing in Mulranny and Achill. Details and images of a selection of the events which took place during the week are given below:
Past, Present, and Future: A fun event for all the family at Doonty Cashel and Corlee Stone Alignment
A great day out was had by young and old on Thursday 25th August, as intrepid souls of all ages ventured to Doonty stone circle and the alignment at Corlee to learn about the past history of the site. A guided tour of the stone circle was given by Jean Beattie who explained its rich history dating back thousands of years. Jean explained that the site had been used as a homestead in the past, as well as being used as a defensive settlement to protect the local area against attacks. Particpants were then invited to sketch the probable design of the stone circle whilst it was in usage throughout the years, and to speculate on how the circle changed as different people occupied the area.
A mock archaeological dig was carried out where the younger members of the group could uncover items from centuries past and figure out how they relataed to the history of the site. This allowed the children to get an idea of how the site had been in use over many years and how different items had been used throughout the years on the site. The children were asked to identify objects found during the dig and to try and place them in the timeline of the site’s construction.
The day ended with a visit to Corlee Stone Alignment, an ancient site used thousands of years ago as a means of differentiating between the months of the year, similar to a modern day calendar. The stone alignment used the sun’s rays to project a line which could be used to tell how close the winter or summer equinox was to coming around. The children were then invited to reconstruct this using poles and standing in position similar to that of the alignment. This was a very interesting experiment to determine what the changing of the seasons would have been like in past centuries. Overall an educational and entertaining day out was had by all, and everyone went home with a better understanding of society in past centuries, and a greater understanding of our shared heritage.
Highlight Walk of Historical Ballinrobe
During the week there was a fantastic oppurtunity to explore the historical highlights of Ballinrobe, from Early Christian to Colonial times, with Averil Staunton from the Ballinrobe Historical Society. There was a great turnout on the day to enjoy a walk through the milestones of local history in Ballinrobe. Pictured above (left) are participants viewing the beautiful Harry Clarke windows in St. Mary's Church, and (right) hearing about the history of the Bower's Walk from local man Tom Tiernan.
Louisburgh Family Foraging Workshop
A family foraging workshop took place in Louisburgh on Sunday 28th August. The day began with participants learning about plant identification and basic strategies for foraging. This was followed by a walk through the woodland, where many local plants were found, including salad and herb plants, berries, nuts, roots, shoots, and fungi.
After lunch there was a chance to put the newly honed identification skills to the test. Cooking and tasting demonstrations followed, with the participants getting a chance to learn how to prepare and process wild foodstuffs and get recipes for herb teas.
Walk and Talk on the Ox Mountains
Michael Grehan and Jean Beattie, Foxford Heritage Group led a most enjoyable and interesting walk along the Largan More Loop in the Ox Mountains on Monday 22nd August. The walk provided the opportunity to explore the local folklore, flora, and fauna. Along the way there was a very interesting discussion on the Gaelic place names of the area. The trail began in the townland of Glanduff in Foxford, as the walkers set off for a 14km journey. The highest point on the loop is 271 metres, which affords a great opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery along the way.
The event was a big success and all who participated came away with a renewed appreciation of the beauty of the local wildlife and landscape.
Guided Beach Walk in Louisburgh
There was a great oppurtunity to take part in a guided beach walk on Saturday the 20th of August in Louisburgh, with a great chance to take in the local marine wildlife as well as the scenery around the beautifal beach area. The walk, led by local marine specialist John Paul Tiernan, took in lots of exciting flora and fauna, including edible seaweed, undersea forest, and many other interesting features in the mysterious ecosystem. All were agreed that it was a great day out and were agreed that it was a superb chance to reconnect with the local environment.
Guided tour of the Architectural Heritage of Castlebar
An enlightening tour of Castlebar took place on Tuesday the 23rd of August, with people availing of the oppurtunity to find out more about the architectural and social history of some of the most prominent buildings in the town. The walk was led by a senior architect from Mayo County Council, and began with a look around the law court, a chamber of justice that has changed throughout the years. This was followed by a tour of the Mall area of the town, taking in many of the interesting buildings that surround it, and explaining the importance of the Mall to the town in times past.
There was then a visit to the Protestant Church at the top of the town (above left), and a history of its usage throughout the years. The building houses a veritable treasure trove of artefacts and placards that testify to its rich architectural heritage. This was followed by a walking tour along the Main Street in Castlebar, stopping off to examine many of the buildings with unique architecture and notable histories. The tour concluded with a visit to the main cathedral in the town, still standing over a hundred years on from it's construction in 1901.
Heritage Week at Ballycroy National Park
Ballycroy National Park celebrated Heritage Week with a variety of activities which included guided walks of the Nature Trail Tóchar Daithí Bán, children's activities, a bat talk and walk, a lecture on Mayo's farming heritage, and a Ranger Led hike. Over 100 visitors attended the various events but the highlight of the week was the Ranger Led walk on Friday the 26th. Accompanied by Conservation Ranger Cameron Clothworthy, walkers enjoyed a five hour hike in the National Park.
Our picture shows the walkers enjoying a well earned rest at Coryloughaphuill in the Neiphin Beg Mountain Range.