This article is from page 9 of the 2006-08-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
MORE than 50 events are scheduled to take place around Clare during Heritage Week 2006, which takes place from August 26 to September 3. Clare County Council says the events will include a range of talks, field trips and exhibitions aimed at encouraging people to take an interest in their local heritage.
Activities will cover a broad range of heritage issues such as the limestone pavements of Ireland and Britain, Ennis placenames, seabird watching, biodiversity, monuments and castle houses, the geology of Scattery Island, songs around the Slieve Aughty, whale and dolphin watching. There will be a fieldtrip to Inchicronan Abbey, a bat talk and walk, an exhibition of Clare Embroidery and a talk on the Field Monument Advisor Programme currently underway in Clare. Heritage Week 2006 will also be marked with the publication of the findings of the Clare Cuckoo Survey 2006.
Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union. Locally the event is co-ordinated by Clare County Council and the Heritage Council with support from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
“Clare’s rich architectural and cultural heritage is invaluable and should be celebrated,” said Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer with Clare County Council. Imagine waking up in the morning in a county very different from the Clare of today. One in which the Burren’s majestic Karst landscape did not exist, where there were no castles and ancient monuments to visit, where our native birds and animals did not populate the countryside, and where there were no parks or forests to contrast with urban life.
“It is, therefore, imperative that people take an interest in Clare’s built, natural and cultural heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. With something for everyone, both young and old, I would urge people to take the opportunity to experience Clare’s heritage.” McGuire stated.
Further information and an events listing for Clare is available on www.clare.ie/ news/news.html or www.heritageweek.ie.