Nature is Good for you
Spending time in nature is good for you. Hearing birds sing and the buzz of bees reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. So why not make a home for nature in your garden? You can attract birds and butterflies by planting native trees and butterfly friendly flowers or by making a log pile or wildlife pond. If you live in Kilkenny and want to make your garden, school or workplace more wildlife friendly, email Kilkenny County Council Heritage Office for a free “Gardening for Biodiversity” book, at heritage@kilkennycoco.ie
Help the Hedgehogs
The Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council is supporting the Irish Hedgehog Survey (run by Elaine O’Riordan, NUI Galway) and we are looking for volunteers to help record hedgehogs in Co. Kilkenny this summer. There are no special skills required – everyone is welcome to take part. If you are interested in taking part in the Garden or Local Area Survey, please sign up for the workshop on Wednesday 25th May @7.30pm via zoom. Further details and how to register for the workshop available at https://kilkennyheritage.ie/2022/05/help-the-hedgehogs/
Memorials, Plaques and Signs in County Kilkenny
Over 300 plaques and memorials throughout Kilkenny commemorate the people, places and events that shape Kilkenny’s history and heritage. The Heritage Office, with the support of the community, has recorded and mapped these important cultural markers. Did you know that permission is required to erect memorials and plaques in Kilkenny? To read more about these memorials, and the Kilkenny County Council Civic Memorial Policy, or to download an application form see https://kilkennyheritage.ie/2017/01/kilkenny-monuments-and-plaques-monuments-and-plaques/
Kilkenny Creative Ireland Programme 2022
Creative Ireland is a national programme which connects people, creativity and wellbeing. Kilkenny County Council Culture Team deliver the “Creative Communities” element of the programme in Kilkenny. To find out more about the range of art, culture and heritage projects funded under the Kilkenny programme in 2022 go to
https://kilkennyheritage.ie/2022/05/creative-ireland-programme-2022/
Digital Trail Toolkit – Meet the Makers Webinar
The Smart Tourism Programme, supported by Dublin City Council and Fáilte Ireland, will host their 2nd webinar on Thursday 16th June @ 3pm and will focus on real world applications of Digital trails, hear from providers who are active in this space and how real word projects are developed and applied followed by a Q and A. Further details/registration at Webinar (microsoft.com)
OPW Publishes Biodiversity Strategy
The OPW has launched its first Biodiversity Strategy which identifies actions that it will undertake to embed biodiversity into all areas of its working brief, including over 100 offices, 780 heritage sites, 5,700 acres of gardens and parkland, 11,500km of drainage channels, and 142 flood relief schemes, and many projects on a range of public and private land. For further details https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3f619-office-of-public-works-launches-new-biodiversity-action-strategy/
Irish Civil War National Conference
University College Cork, supported and funded by the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, will host a 4-day national conference to mark the centenary of the Irish Civil War from 15th -18th June where all aspects of the Civil War will be examined, including political, social, cultural, gender, military and economic dimensions. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. Further information/registration at – https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/irish-civil-war-national-conference-june-2022/
The Dublin Castle Scandals 1884 talk
OPW Kilkenny Castle will mark this year’s Pride Month by hosting a talk by Brian Crowley, author and curator of the collections at Pearse Museum and Kilmainham Gaol, titled The Dublin Castle Scandals of 1884, on Saturday 18th June from 7.30 – 8.30pm in Kilkenny Castle and will talk about the bitter political war which raged between the Home Rule movement and the British administration in Ireland that led to the exposure of Dublin’s secret male homosexual community. Free event but registration is required. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/pride-festival-talk-the-dublin-castle-scandals-of-1884-tickets-328006866367
Energy Renovation for Traditional Buildings course
The Heritage Council, in partnership with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), have announced a new course, ‘Certificate in Energy Renovation for Traditional Buildings (Level 8)’ with the first module to run from June to July 2022 which will take place in-person in TUS Limerick. Further details available at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news/news-features/certificate-in-energy-renovation-for-traditional-buildings
