National Heritage Week 2024 took place at venues across Laois from August 17 to 25, attracting huge crowds to many diverse destinations.
National Heritage Week brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
Well over 2,000 events took place nationwide, with some particular highlights to be found here in County Laois.
Brian Hodkinson acted as Walk Leader as he and Laois Heritage Officer, Thomas Carolan led a tour of the Rock of Dunamase.
Stradbally Library hosted the launch of ‘Beneath the Sky of Stars’, a collaboration between writers and artists.
Through the lens of mythology and fairy tale, this collection of short stories re-imagines the landscape of County Laois, offering new and imaginative insights.
Owner, David Walsh Kemmis led a farm walk of his glorious Ballykilcavan Farm, home of the hugely popular Ballykilcavan Brewery.
Abbeyleix Vitality Hub joined forces with Pedal Vintage Durrow to organise a cycle connecting Abbeyleix and Durrow through the grounds of Abbeyleix House and Farm.
‘How Ireland Saved Motorsport’ took place in Portlaoise’s Dunamaise Arts Centre, exploring a sporting event which profoundly altered the future of motorsport worldwide, and had a lasting impact on both Irish sport and society.
Stradbally Woodland Railway offered the chance to experience rail travel from a bygone age at the oldest volunteer-run heritage line in Ireland.
There was a tour of the 15th Century Franciscan Abbey covering the history of the Abbey, including the grisly Battle of Stradbally, while Dunamaise Beekeepers hosted an open day at their apiary on the Stradbally Hall Estate
The well-named ‘Tour Round the Tower’ saw Laois PPN’s giving tours of the Timahoe Round Tower, one of the finest examples of a Round Tower in Ireland.
Past pupils of the Brigidine Convent, Mountrath celebrated the heritage of St Brigid through a programme of music, art, nature and creative writing held in Bloom HQ and cleverly named ‘Brigid in Bloom.’
In Camross, the Tidy Towns highlighted the importance of protecting pristine waters The Little Delour River, and the benefits to biodiversity, health, heritage and the climate.
The Poets Cottage also hosted ‘The life and Times of the Camross Poet, Patrick Ryan’.
Local photographer Alf Harvey was on hand to capture some glorious photographs of these wonderful events:
Rock of Dunamase Tour
Beneath the Sky of Stars
Ballykilcavan Farm Walk
Heritage Week Cycle
How Ireland Saved Motorsport
Stradbally Woodland Railway
Tour of Franciscan Abbey
Tour of the Malthouse
Open Day Dunamaise Apiary
Tour Round the Tower
Brigid in Bloom
Camross
SEE ALSO – Stradbally singer Alice Laffan still buzzing after Electric Picnic experience
