Discover your Cavan heritage!
PREVIEW National Heritage Week
This weekend National Heritage Week 2021 kicks off and it's all about getting as many people involved in heritage as possible. The Heritage Council is encouraging project organisers to connect with a group or individuals in their community who may not feel included in local heritage.
Cavan has a number of events on offer this year despite the constraints.
On Tuesday, August 17, at 7.30pm, Cootehill Library is the location for a presentation on Workhouses and the Poor Law Unions across Ireland that brought them about. Workhouses became one of the most hated institutions and those who became an inmate of such an establishment were, according to the dictum of the time, to be treated as being lower than a convict. Cootehill was home to one such workhouse and this talk by Jonathan Smyth looks at how it all began.
This Cootehill Library event will be available to view online through Cootehill Library Facebook page and on www.cavanlibrary.ie
Belturbet Heritage Railway Station Museum has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. In order to promote and publicise the preservation of this restored heritage site, the custodians are presenting an introductory virtual tour of this vital component of the community from 1885-1959.
During National Heritage Week 2021, there will be three events with local historians. On Friday, August 20, Jonathan Smyth will present 'Tales from the Railway of Cavan'. On Saturday, August 21, Dr Brendan Scott will discuss the development of Plantation Belturbet (1610-1714); while on Sunday, August 22, George Morrissey will discuss the Steamship Belturbet, and the role it played together with the railway in providing transport in this region.
On Wild Child Day, Wednesday August 18, a Heritage Treasure hunt in conjunction with UNESCO Geopark Cavan, will explore the Belturbet Heritage Town Trail from Turbet Island to the Railway Station.
On the night of August 22, 2017, Jampa Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Cavan hosted an evening of old neighbours gathered in the former coachhouse of Owendoon House to recall their stories and reminiscences of the house and farm in former times, as part of National Heritage Week.
The centre now presents a selection of the reminiscences, audio recorded by Cavan Heritage, along with a short film with memories of the house and its previous owners related by Kathleen Plunkett (née Prior). Kathleen’s father worked in Owendoon from the age of 10 years. Kathleen has since passed away. Her granddaughter Tamara narrates her story.
A day observing, drawing and painting the nature and landscape of the unique Killyconny living bog with artists Michelle Boyle and Daphne Levinge will be held on Sunday, August 15, from 10am-4pm. This is a free event, but limited to 15-20 participants, and is supported by The Killyconny Bog Group, The Living Bog and the peatlands Community Engagement Scheme
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
National Heritage Week has a number of events arranged across the county. Running from Sunday, August 14 to Sunday August 22 the programme has a number of interesting offerings over the course of the nine days.
In the build up to this year's programme, the Heritage Council invited individuals, communities, and organisations to develop Heritage Week Projects.
Cavan County Council Heritage Office facilitated a small grant scheme to support individuals and groups to undertake suitable events.
All projects are in line with public health guidance that allows social gatherings to take place during National Heritage Week.
Organisers can host in-person events that are 100% compliant with prevailing guidance.