Kilkenny County Heritage Strategy Consultation
Pre-draft consultation on the next Kilkenny County Heritage Strategy is on-going with a number of upcoming consultation workshops taking place across the county in April and May. This strategy will help to preserve, protect, and promote the rich heritage of our county within a local, regional and national context. We are committed to making the strategy inclusive and reflective of the values and aspirations of the people of Kilkenny. Therefore, all residents, local organisations, and stakeholders in Kilkenny’s heritage are invited to participate in the consultation process by sharing their views on the actions required to safeguard and promote the heritage of Kilkenny. All are welcome to attend one of our engaging and fun consultation workshops and submissions to the strategy can also be made until 30th April 2025 via:
- The online consult portal, https://consult.kilkenny.ie/
- Email: heritage@kilkennycoco.ie
- Send a written submission to Heritage Office, Community and Culture Section, Kilkenny County Council, St Patrick’s Court, Patrick Street, Kilkenny City, R95 N28F.
New Biodiversity Course in partnership with the Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board Launched in Kilkenny
A new biodiversity course it set to take place in late May, running over 5 weeks. Participants will learn about the importance of biodiversity, the various species and habitats found in Kilkenny and field work sessions will build on practical ecology skills to make participants confident citizen scientists. The course will run over 5 consecutive weeks, with an evening two hour lecture session mid-week, followed by a weekend morning session of fieldwork. It will be a small class size of 15 participants and application forms are available via biodiversity@kilkennycoco.ie . A course outline will accompany the application form and the closing date for applications is the 22nd April 2025.
Applications are now open for the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme!
Are you a traditional craftsperson based in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland (or do you know someone who is, who might be interested)? If you are a stonemason, carpenter, joiner, bricklayer, blacksmith, plasterer, thatcher, roofer, tiler, painter or decorator interested in taking your skills to the next level, we’d like to hear from you. The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme offers a 12-month training programme to develop your skills. Participants will gain hands-on experience in the conservation, repair, and maintenance of historic structures, while also discovering how traditional skills can contribute to shaping and creating new spaces and places.
Visit https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/our-work-with-others/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme to find out more or find the guidance document attached. The closing date for applications is 11th April 2025. Watch this video from current student Neil Cunningham at https://youtu.be/uOXZ6h3aE4k
Thatch Training Course underway at Gáirdín an Ghorta
A new course on thatching in Kilkenny is underway at Gáirdín an Ghorta, Newmarket. Run by the Heritage Council in partnership with Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB), this full-time introductory course, which begins in January 2025, is designed for individuals wishing to pursue a career as a thatcher in Ireland. It is the first of its kind in Ireland since the last FÁS course was run in 2009 and is a first step in addressing the decreasing number of thatchers in Ireland.
Image courtesy of The Heritage Council
Garden Talks at Kilkenny Castle
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present Garden Talks once again as part of their Spring Programme 2025. All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis. Doors open at 7:30pm with talks starting at 8:00pm in the Parade Tower. For more information see: https://www.kilkennycastle.ie/events/
New Online Course: Managing School Grounds for Biodiversity!
As part of The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Programme, The National Biodiversity Data Centre in association with Department of Education has launched a free online course to help schools create more biodiversity-friendly spaces. Perfect for teachers, students, and anyone passionate about nature, this course offers practical guidance on making school grounds more welcoming for pollinators and other wildlife.
Get started today! https://pollinators.ie/managing-school-grounds-for-biodiversity/
The Great Irish Fossil Hunt 2025
The Great Irish Fossil Hunt is a new campaign to encourage the Irish public to find fossils and to send a photograph of their fossil finds. An initiative of UCC, they want to create a fossil map of Ireland that will capture the full range of fossils that can be found all around the country. This map will include fossils in natural rock outcrops, but also fossils visible in building stones in our towns and cities. This will help to make fossils much more accessible to the Irish public, no matter whether you live in a rural area or big city, anywhere in the country.
For more information see: https://www.ucc.ie/en/fossil-heritage/thegreatirishfossilhunt/
Grant for Commemorations Research Opening to Historians
The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., has announced the opening of this year’s Commemorations grant, in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy. The Commemorations Bursary Scheme was established to encourage and support new local research and local history studies relating to the commemoration of events associated with the early years of the State as well as other significant historical anniversaries, events and themes. The closing date for applications is 15th May 2025. For more information see: https://www.ria.ie/grants/commemorations-bursary/
Wonder Wander in Kilkenny
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is delighted to launch the latest additions to its series of Wonder Wander Walking Trails. This year they have partnered with the Architectural Conservation Officer in Kilkenny County Council to produce interactive walking trail maps showcasing well-known architectural highlights and lesser-known architectural details in the Architectural Conservation Areas in Castlecomer and Freshford. Each Wonder Wander Walking Trail is self-guided, the interactive map providing user-friendly information on selected sites of interest, the accompanying “Scavenger Hunt” showing architectural details to keep an eye out for. Hardcopies of all Wonder Wander Walking Trails are available from partner locations including branch libraries and county council offices. For more information see: https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/wonder-wander-walking-trails-2025/
