Heritage News & Events 5th July 2018

Things to do in Heritage Week 2018
While enjoying the beautiful weather why not think about what you might like to do during this year’s Heritage Week which runs from 18th -26th August.  Guided tours of Heritage sites, stories of the River Nore, tile painting workshops and Bug Hotels for children are just a few of the many interesting things to do.
Kells Priory OPW
Enjoy a free guided tour of Ireland’s largest enclosed ecclesiastical site. Hear about the Norman lords and Augustinian Priors of Kells and see some beautiful sculpture.
Tour of the Deerpark Colliery
Castlecomer Discovery Park commemorates its mining legacy with a tour of the Deerpark Colliery. Enjoy the fascinating guided tour of the former Deerpark Colliery site with ex-miner Seamus Walsh.
Stories of the River Nore
Thomastown Community Network will host a guided walk of Industrial and Natural Heritage along the River Nore. Enjoy stories of Grennan Mill and the railway Viaduct.
For further details on the above events and other Heritage Week events go to https://www.heritageweek.ie/whats-on/events?where=kilkenny&when=&type=&order=eventFirstDate+asc&q=
Thomastown Public Consultation Workshop
Kilkenny County Council is reviewing the Thomastown Local Area Plan and they are inviting all interested parties to a public consultation workshop on Wednesday 11th July from 7.30 -9.30pm in Thomastown Community Centre. All are welcome. Further details/submission questions https://consult.kilkenny.ie/en/consultation/thomastown-local-area-plan-2019-pre-draft-consultation-process
Biodiversity Grant for Kilkenny
The Heritage Office has been awarded a grant of €8,500 by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Biodiversity Action Plan Grant scheme to co-fund 3 biodiversity projects in Co. Kilkenny, as follows:
• A Citizen Science project, in partnership with the National Biodiversity data Centre, to encourage people to gather and submit records of key plant and animal species in specific nature conservation sites around the county.
• A Pollinator Awareness Project
• Contribution to a publication on Swifts, in partnership with BirdWatch Ireland and other Local Authorities.