Happy Christmas from the Kilkenny Heritage Office
Thanks for your interest in and support of Kilkenny’s heritage throughout 2021. We are delighted to be part of the wonderful community of people working to record, raise awareness and protect Kilkenny’s heritage. We’d like to particularly acknowledge and thank everyone who does this in a voluntary capacity. We really appreciate and value your work. Wishing you and your families a Happy Christmas and New Year.
Dearbhala and Bernadette, Heritage Office.
Please help the Garden Bird Survey
Birdwatch Ireland are asking members of the public to keep note of the highest number of each bird species visiting their garden every week between now and February. We support this great initiative and encourage Kilkenny citizens to help with this survey. Please send your garden bird records online, by email or by post to Birdwatch Ireland. https://birdwatchireland.ie/our-work/surveys-research/research-surveys/irish-garden-bird-survey/?nowprocket=1
New national Vernacular Heritage Strategy
Minister Noonan recently launched a new national strategy for vernacular heritage in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, called “A Living Tradition: a strategy to enhance the understanding, care and handing-on of our built vernacular heritage” and comprises building and other items that were almost always built or made by the occupants and users themselves. To read the strategy go to https://kilkennyheritage.ie/2021/12/new-national-vernacular-heritage-strategy/
Annual Review of Local Authority work to support pollinators
Learn about the breadth of work that Local Authorities across Ireland have undertaken in 2021 to help pollinators and support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. The report by the National Biodiversity Date Centre gives a snapshot of five actions carried out by each local authority this year. This gives a flavour of the work being done and also enables knowledge exchange between Councils. https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/All-Ireland-Pollinator-Plan-2021_Councils-Partners-Annual-Review.pdf
“Centenary Songs – a new episode in the Mná 100 podcast series
Minister Catherine Martin recently launched the third episode in the Mná 100 podcast series titled ‘Centenary Songs’ as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023 which marks the centenary of the 2nd Dáil Eireann debates on the Treaty. As part of this programme the National Concert Hall has brought together some of Ireland’s leading singer song-writers to create centenary folksongs inspired by the men and women who took part in the Treaty Debates. To find out more about this programme and listen to this podcast go to https://www.mna100.ie/centenary-moments/centenary-songs/
The Handover of Dublin Castle Centenary Conference
Trinity College Dublin, with support from the OPW and the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, will host a two-day conference titled The Handover of Dublin Castle: A Centenary Conference on 14th-15th January 2022 in The Printworks, Dublin Castle and will also be live-streamed for online attendees. On 16 January 1922 the Provisional Government took possession of Dublin Castle. This conference explores the significance of this moment. Free event but registration is required through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-handover-of-dublin-castle-a-centenary-conference-tickets-218806103947
Climate. Culture. Peace. Call for conference papers. Do you have a story to share?
The British Council and partners will host a two-day virtual conference in Jan 2022 titled Climate, Culture, Peace, which will focus on heritage places and institutions which are threatened by climate-related disasters and/or conflicts driven by environmental stresses. They have called for contributions to the conference. Closing date for contributions: 22nd December 2021. Further details on this programme and conference available at https://www.iccrom.org/news/climateculturepeace-%E2%80%93-call-contributions
