The Ramelton Heritage and Development Association, Co Donegal, held its eighth annual art and history seminar last Saturday, an event that is proving so popular it may increase its status to a summer school.
Ms Karena Hanley, a committee member, said there was a possibility of expanding the event by incorporating historical walks or some other activities.
"It is a matter for the committee. It is a lot of work as it is. We would like to keep it going as an event," she said.
There was great enthusiasm behind the event and they had already started thinking of their lecturers for next year.
The biggest achievement of the association has been to collect a large portion of the £300,000 towards restoration work on the old Meeting House, a building dating from 1690.
The seminar was held in the Meeting House. Now used as a library and by FAS it had been owned by the Presbyterian Church, which gave it to the local community. There was one important proviso in the agreement. No raffles were to take place or alcohol sold or drunk on the premises.
About 15 years ago the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co Down, wanted to take the building, stone by stone, to the museum. However, the local people held an urgent meeting and felt they wanted to hold on to it because it was an important part of their heritage. It was decided to restore the building and put it to public use.
Ms Hanley said: "It was felt that if we lose this, it is gone for ever. It has been there for over 300 years and we didn't want it to go."
The speakers at this year's seminar were Mr Sean Rothery, architect; Mr Clive Symmons, retired lecturer in law; Prof Anne Crookshank of TCD; and Mr Anthony Malcolmson, former head of the Northern Ireland Public Record Office.