Kilkenny’s Toil and Trouble
The festivities to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Kilkenny’s Witch Trials took place throughout October and early November with lots of activities and events for everyone to enjoy. Many of the events were funded by Creative Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media along with Kilkenny County Council. Highlights included an Educational Resource pack delivered to over 13,000 primary school children around the county just in time for Halloween! This was developed by the Kilkenny Library Service. A Service of Atonement also took place in St Canice’s Cathedral along with a weekend-long conference held by Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Full details of events and resources that were created to commemorate this event can be found on the Kilkenny’s Toil and Trouble website.
Service of Atonement for Petronilla de Meath – Rev Stephen Farrell, Dean of St Canice’s Cathedral. Photo Credit; Róisín Murphy O’Sullivan
Kilkenny Heritage Forum Meeting
The first meeting of the new Kilkenny Heritage Forum meeting took place on 25th October with representation from organisations across Co. Kilkenny. The group were later joined by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD and Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan to announce that almost €1m in funding is being made available in 2025 for the recruitment of new heritage professionals in local authorities aimed at strengthening the protection of heritage assets across the country. More information on this initiative can be found here.
Kilkenny Heritage Forum Meeting. Photo Credit: Heritage Council
Applications Open for Community Monuments Fund 2025
Applications are now open for the Community Monuments Fund 2025. This Fund is operated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and administered by the Heritage Office, Kilkenny County Council. The Fund provides investment in Ireland’s archaeological heritage and is prioritised for Local Authorities, private owners, custodians and community groups. The aim of the fund is to: Enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support; Build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change; Encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation. The closing date for applications is 4pm, Friday 31st January 2025. For more information, please see www.kilkennyheritage.ie
Launch of First Thatch Training Course in 15 years in Kilkenny to run in 2025
A new Thatching Training Course is to be run in Kilkenny in partnership between the Heritage Council and Kilkenny Carlow ETB. There will be a number of Heritage Council funded bursaries to enable participation. The course trainer will be Brian Simpson. This Introductory course is designed for individuals wishing to pursue a career as a Thatcher in Ireland. The course is suitable for those wishing to explore thatching as a career as well as those with some prior experience in the Thatching field.
This is a full-time Introductory course that will be delivered in person over a period of 42 weeks at a venue in Co Kilkenny. The Introductory course will include a 6-week work placement with an experienced Thatcher. Please see link for applicants to apply for the course directly to the ETB: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=461931
The Heritage Council Opens 2 Funds for Applications
Applications are now open for The Heritage Stewardship Fund which provides financial support for staff in local authorities, state agencies and educational institutions with responsibility for heritage programmes and a Scheme Supporting Heritage-Focused Organisations (HOSF), which provides financial support to not-for-profit NGOs working in the heritage sector.
The closing date for applications for the Stewardship Fund is Wednesday, 15th of January 2025 at 5pm.
The closing date for applications for the scheme supporting heritage-focused organisations is Monday, 27th of January 2025 at 5pm.
Both applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system.
For more information please visit: – https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/funding/on-line-grants-system
SEARCHING FOR ORAL RECORDINGS
From professionally catalogued archives to shoeboxes of cassette tapes, Mac Conmara Heritage, are working on an Audit of Oral Recordings in Co. Kilkenny.
If you have information or wish to find out more, contact Mac Conmara Heritage on 087 9160373, e-mail macconmaraheritage@gmail.com or see: Kilkenny Oral History Audit – Kilkenny Heritage
Future Ancestor Project
Blueway Art Studio are collecting data to measure the impact of their Future Ancestor Project, which focuses on Athy’s sense of place whilst merging themes of climate change.
They would like to collect data from all counties that the River Barrow flows through. For more information please visit: – https://bluewayartstudio.ie/future-ancestor-project/
South Kilkenny Historical Society November 2024 Lecture
All are welcome to join this FREE lecture hosted by Andrew Doherty on Friday November 29th at 8pm, Mullinavat Parish Hall (opposite St. Beacon’s Church).
This talk will explore the freight that once graced the River Blackwater, the cargo, the boats and the people, drawing on the fading memories of those times which remain. It will look at the knowledge of locals, maps, what remains and by the waterways themselves.
For more information visit: https://glenmore-history.com/south-kilkenny-historical…/
