THERE WAS a time when the word "heritage" conjured up an image of old, dusty stuff stored in musty buildings. These days it's a much more elastic concept. It stretches to include artefacts, traditions – even snippets of poetry and song which would once have been filed under "heritage heresy", writes ARMINTA WALLACE
Indeed, as Ireland’s Heritage Week 2009 prepares for lift-off on Saturday, the range of activities on offer is mind-boggling. Military re-enactments, poetry readings, bog walks, hurley making, whale watching, medieval food sampling – for the last 10 days of August, heritage can be defined as whatever you’re having yourself.
It’s a long way from the event’s formal beginnings in the early 1980s. “It actually came out of France,” says Isabell Smyth of the Heritage Council. “It began as an open day for built heritage, and it was very popular – particularly in Paris.” In 1985, the French minister of culture suggested this “Monuments’ Open Doors” initiative be extended on a European level, and in 1991 the Council of Europe launched the European Heritage Days programme with the support of the European Commission.
“Ireland was one of the first countries to pick it up, first through the Office of Public Works, which manages many of our heritage sites and cultural institutions, and then the Department of the Environment got involved,” Smyth says.
“But it has taken on a very big voluntary element in Ireland that it doesn’t have in other European countries. Mostly, it’s very much about State bodies opening State buildings. In Ireland, it has taken on a very different life.”
In Ireland, Heritage Week is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council with support from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Fáilte Ireland.
The Heritage Council acts as an umbrella for a plethora of local groups who nominate events for inclusion. Some of these would have been happening anyway. But many, such as the opening of stately homes and heritage sites with free admission or special concessions, conform more closely to the original Council of Europe specifications. “Libraries and museums have a lot going on,” says Smyth. “There’s also a lot of activity around canals and waterways. It’s a real coming together of State agencies and voluntary organisations.” For anyone who’s passionate about architecture, the notion of getting into buildings that are normally off-limits is as exciting as it gets.
Cork Heritage Open Day began in 2005 with the city’s year as European Cultural Capital. “We we were overwhelmed by the response,” says organiser Niamh Twomey. This year, 33 of the city’s buildings will open their doors free of charge, allowing punters to poke around backstage in a theatre, visit the Masonic Lodge, or get up close and personal with contemporary architecture at the Elysian Tower, one of the largest buildings in Ireland.
“We have a website with maps and walks,” says Twomey, “and if you’re walking around the city on the day you’ll see people with their brochures which they’ve downloaded, rushing from one side of the city to the other to get to a particular building.”
In Dublin, Merrion Square Open Day is scheduled for August 29th. “Some properties you can drop into, others will be giving guided tours at particular times and there are various events going in the square throughout the day,” says Kieran Burns. He’s based at No 29, a restored Georgian House run by the National Museum, which will be open on the day. But there’ll also be a rare chance to look at the fine early-19th-century wall paintings at No 49, which is owned by the National University of Ireland, and to soak up the ambience of No 58, Daniel O’Connell’s home for 35 years, which is now owned by the University of Notre Dame.
Isabell Smyth admits “heritage” is a difficult concept to pin down. Even our Heritage Act 1995, she says, avoids a definition. Instead, it offers a lengthy list of what might constitute Irish heritage, from “chattels” to “seascapes”, from “non-aquatic invertebrate animals and amphibians” to “books, documents and other records, including genealogical records”.
“It leaves a little bit of space, to allow for the fact that heritage is something that changes over time. Certainly our understanding of it, and our appreciation of different aspects of it, changes over time.”
Smyth is most interested in what she calls “our natural heritage. There’s a real lack of understanding of the links between our lifestyle and the impact we’re having. We have a very poor sense of connection.”
This makes the diversity of Heritage Week its greatest strength. “How we build, how we plan our water, our waste systems – all these things are below the surface on Heritage Week.”
For more information, see www.heritageweek.ie
A handful of the hundreds of Heritage Week events
OFFICIAL OPENING
Kilkenny Castle has a range of free events this Saturday, 12-5pm. Try your hand at hurley making, Celtic drumming, butter making, and other traditional skills. The programme also includes spinning and weaving, wrought ironwork, dry-stone walling and cooking demonstrations from Clodagh McKenna. 056-7770777
DANCING AT THE CROSSROADS
This is part of a series of dancing events, with live bands. It will be held in Mallow, Laharn Cross on the Killarney Road, Cork this Sunday and the following Sunday, 8-10pm. Free. 086-8903154, johnpauloshea@eircom.net
IRELAND’S MEDICAL HISTORY
Explore Ireland's medical history in a restored building on Kildare Street, which has been home to the Royal College of Physicians for more than 150 years. Attractions include Napoleon's toothbrush. Monday, noon-8pm. 01-6698806, robertmills@numbersix.ie
BILBERRY GOATS
This species of goat is unique to Waterford, and can be found living on Bilberry Rock, overlooking Waterford city. This particular species can only be found here. They have been inhabiting this part of Waterford for more than 400 years. 051-399986, bilberrygoat heritagetrust@hotmail.com.
MERRION SQUARE
Visitors will have an opportunity to explore Georgian Dublin in a relaxed setting and see properties not often open to the public during this day of special events designed to celebrate the heritage of Merrion Square and its surroundings. Talks, walks, workshops, and a music programme are planned for August 30th, 10am-5pm, but places are limited so booking is advised. 01-7026165, www.esb.ie/no29
CANAL WALKS
A walk of discovery along the Royal Canal takes place on Saturday, 2-4pm. Prospective attendees are asked to bring a towel and swimming togs and the contact is McManus, heritagegroup@ballyfermot.ieNext Thursday, a talk by Tommy McLoughlin about the Boyne Canal takes place at 7.45pm. Booking is essential. www.battleoftheboyne.ie
CAHERCONNEL STONE FORT
Get up close with archaeology in Co Clare, and witness a live excavation. Last year's dig uncovered medieval coins and Neolithic Bronze Age pottery. Runs this Saturday until Sunday week. 065-7089999, www.burrenforts.ie
BIRDS OF PREY
Animals on display at Rathwood in Tullow, Co Carlow include eagles, hawks and owls. Visitors can learn about their habits, lives and conservation and can ride a train or take a walk through the woods nearby. Takes place this Sunday, 2-5pm. 059-9156285, info@rathwood.com
COIN AND STAMP VALUATION
Anyone with a hoard of old coins, medals or stamps can get them valued by an expert on Monday, 2-5pm at the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre. 041-9809950, battleoftheboyne@opw.ie
SEAN-NÓS WEEKEND
This weekend the All-Ireland sean-nós dancing competition takes places in Co Meath and includes workshops on sean-nós singing, dancing and traditional music. On Saturday night. a traditional concert takes place (entry €10), with an outdoor céilí on Sunday afternoon. 087-2962320
CULTURAL CENTRE
This weekend rediscover natural remedies on Saturday and Sunday, 2-6pm at Ballyhugh House, a cultural centre based in west Cavan that also has accommodation in a 19th-century farmhouse. Next Wednesday, a night of country-house dancing takes place from 9.30pm to 11.45pm. 049-9526044, ballyhughart@eircom.net
MEETING MARINE LIFE
This Saturday at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve in Skibbereen, Cork, you can see and touch creatures alongside UCC marine biologists. Noon-2pm 028-40900, info@skibbheritage.com
MEDIEVAL FOOD
The Kerry County Museum in Tralee has a range of events over the coming week. The most eye-catching is a medieval food evening on Saturday August 29th, 5-6pm. Visitors can hear about and taste the types of food our ancestors ate. Free tours are available daily. 066-7127777, education@kerrymuseum.ie
NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM
The Maynooth National Science Museum will have the largest collection of scientific instruments on public display in Ireland on August 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. The museum is open between 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and Sunday 2pm to 6pm. 01-7083780, niall.mckeith@nuim.ie
- Brian O'Connell
