Brochures launched on heritage week tours

Dublin City Council has published a series of walking tour brochures covering historic and modern sights of the city.

The Lord Mayor, Mr Dermot Lacey, launched the brochures yesterday to mark National Heritage Week, which starts on Sunday. The brochures cover the areas around O'Connell Street, the Liberties/ Coombe, the HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Project, covering the northside area between O'Connell Street and Collins Barracks) and Kilmainham/Inchicore.

Among the nuggets of information contained in the tours is the origin of the word "gurrier" (derived from the hardy individuals in the Liberties who beat and softened, or "gurried" leather for use) and the fact that Charles Stewart Parnell wears two overcoats on his perch at the top of O'Connell Street.

The council is hosting 15 events during National Heritage Week. These include an opportunity to view archaeological excavations in Smithfield and a photographic exhibition in Chapelizod. The brochures are being distributed through Dublin city libraries and are also available from marian.dowling@dublincity.ie.

Over 500 events are planned throughout the State during the week and information is available on www.heritageireland.ie.