Update on Kilkenny Decade of Centenaries programme 2021
To find out about Sinnott’s Cross Memorial Committee’s commemoration marking the 100 years since the Sinnott’s Cross Ambush during the War of Independence see https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Feoin.walsh.9028%2Fposts%2F10215655405978510&show_
The Pat Walsh Memorial Committee held a Centenary Commemoration of the death of Captain Pat Walsh. This was an online virtual commemoration and can be viewed by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg81_C1DWts
Listen to the new History Ireland Hedge School podcast titled Kilkenny in the revolutionary decade at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-ireland/id1503109266 and https://www.historyireland.com/hedge-schools/ or wherever you get your podcasts
All of these projects were commissioned by Kilkenny County Council and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 programme.
Do you know a Heritage Hero? Are you a Heritage Newcomer?
Why not enter your project for one of the many awards in national Heritage Week? Awards will be given for Best County Heritage Project; Heritage Hero; Heritage Newcomer: Heritage Sharing; Heritage for all ages; Water Heritage; and Wild Child. All successful projects uploaded on heritageweek.ie by Monday 30th August 2021 can be considered for a National Heritage Award. Further details available at https://www.heritageweek.ie/news/heritage-council-to-recognise-heritage-projects-for-its-national-heritage-awards-scheme
Conservation Plan for Abbey Quarter Commences
Work has started on drawing up a new Conservation Plan for the heritage structures on the former Smithwick’s Brewery site in Kilkenny City. A multi-disciplinary team of conservation architect, engineer, archaeologist and ecologist is preparing the plan for Kilkenny County Council and the OPW. The plan will look at the setting and long-term protection and maintenance of St Francis Abbey, St Francis Well and the City Walls at Evans Turret and wall walk. The public will be consulted on the draft plan in the coming months. The plan is co-funded by the Community Monuments Fund of the National Monuments Service, and Kilkenny County Council, and is prepared in conjunction with the National Monuments Service and the Heritage Council.
Congratulations to Kilkenny Castle
We would like to offer our congratulations to Kilkenny Castle on receiving an excellence award from the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland, coordinated by the Heritage Council. They were one of only ten museums that received accreditation under this programme. Further details available at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news/news-features/10-irish-museums-receive-excellence-award-in-post-covid-tourism-boost-1
Callan Energy Store awarded grant
Callan Energy Store is one of 14 projects to receive funding under a new Creative Climate Action fund developed by the Creative Ireland Programme in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This is a community engagement project that will radically reimagine Callan’s energy supply, an initiative led by Asylum Theatre and Loosysmokes. see https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/blog/creative-climate-action-fund-projects-announced/
Protect our Past – caring for our visitor sites
A new campaign, a joint initiative of the Office of Public Works and the National Monuments Service, titled Protect Our Past, was recently launched, urging visitors to our heritage sites to be mindful of their actions over the summer and to raise awareness of the value, importance and sensitivity of Ireland’s built heritage. Further details available at www.gov.ie/opw/
Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings public consultation
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have published a Draft Guidance for Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings for public consultation. This document and public consultation online questionnaire (open for submissions until 10th September 2021) are available at https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/public-consultation-on-the-draft-guidance-for-energy-efficiency-in-traditional-buildings-en/
BirdWatch Ireland Swifts webinar available to watch on youtube
BirdWatch Ireland recently held a special webinar all about a bird that is very close to our hearts. They recorded the event and have now made it available on their YouTube channel for everyone to watch. Birds Connect Swift Webinar – 14th July 2021 – YouTube
8 Key practices granted State Recognition
Minister Martin has extended the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage to give State recognition to a further 8 key practices of Ireland’s Living Cultural Heritage which includes Beekeeping, Clones Crochet Lace Making and Native Irish Cattle Breeding. To check out the full list go to https://nationalinventoryich.chg.gov.ie/
