News from the world of nature
A week to explore our heritage
National Heritage Week in the Republic officially begins tomorrow, and in Northern Ireland there will be free admission to over 200 buildings on September 11th and 12th. The central aim of these events is to raise public interest in our heritage and to imbibe a stronger sense of the need for conservation and preservation. A sample of events follows.
Let yourself be guided
Enhance your knowledge of your heritage with a guided walk. Guided tours of Bully's Acre and the Military Graveyard at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin will take place on two consecutive sundays, September 5th and 12th, at 11 a.m. (booking on Tel:01-6129970). Free guided walks of medieval Dublin leave from City Hall on Monday at 5.30 p.m. and Dublinia on Friday at 5.30 p.m. Free guided walks around Dublin's South Docklands take place on Sunday, September 12th at 11.30 a.m. and 2 p.m., starting from Pearse Square.
Past erupting into the present
Members of the Geological Survey of Ireland will examine evidence that north Dublin had a volcanic past on a walk on Wednesday, leaving from the Portrane Coastal car park at 7 p.m. They will also explore the geology and nature of Bray Head on Sunday, September 12th, leaving from the pitch and putt car park on Bray Head at 2 p.m. Ecologist Dr Mary Tubridy will lead a wildlife walk in St Anne's Park, Dublin on Saturday, September 11th, meeting at the main gates at 3 p.m.
More than the capital gains
Outside of the capital, interesting events include free guided tours and talks by the Irish Landmark Trust at the Loop Head lightkeeper's house in Co Clare and Wicklow Head Lighthouse, Co Wicklow on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; military re-enactments on September 11th and 12th at Charles Fort, Kinsale, Co. Cork.; a guided bat walk in Coole Park, County Galway on Friday at 7 p.m.; and a talk on the conservation of historic houses in Castletown House, Castletown, Co Kildare on Wednesday at 8 p.m. (booking on Tel: 01-6288252). Guided herb walks go ahead on the West Cork Herb Farm in Skibbereen, Co Cork on Wednesday at 11.30 a.m.; the Ballyseedy Organic Farm , Tralee, Co Kerry on September 12th at 3 p.m.; and the Gortbrack Organic Farm, Tralee, Co Kerry on September 12th at 3 p.m.
Mill around the wind farms
National Mill Day will be celebrated again this year on September 11th. Mills hosting special events on that day include Blennerville Windmill in Tralee, Co Kerry; Elphin Windmill, Elphin, Co Roscommon; Foxford Mills Visitor Centre, Foxford, Co Mayo; Locke's Distillery Museum, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath; Skerries Mills, Skerries, Co Dublin; and the National Trust Mills, Strangford, Co Down. For more details of events, pick up a Heritage Week brochure at your local library or Tel: 1850 200 659. See also www.environ.ie and www.heritagecouncil.ie. Most sites managed by the Heritage Service offer free entry on Sundays (September 5th and 12th only). For more details of events in Northern Ireland: Tel: 048 90543022 or email: ehd@doeni.gov.uk