Mid-West region (Tipperary, Limerick and Clare) to host Ireland’s first showcase of indigenous breeds as part of Heritage Week.
Ireland’s first celebration of indigenous animal breeds will take place at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare, on Sunday August 18th, as part of a wide-ranging programme of National Heritage Week events at the County Clare visitor attraction.
Hosted in association with the Irish Native Rare Breed Society(INRBS), the inaugural event will include livestock displays of native breeds such as Tamworth Pigs and Irish Red Deer, lectures on rare breed conservation, and tastings of products derived from indigenous breeds. Specialists in crafts involving wool, leather and beeswax, also, will provide demonstrations and displays of their finished artworks and garments.
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park’s Shinead Moloney pictured with resident Irish Wolfhounds Rian and Míde.
The event will feature speakers from The Rare Breeds Survival Trust(RBST), Farming for Nature(FFN) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS), as well as ecologists and people working with the breeds, who will provide different perspectives on breed conservation and the associated area of biodiverse land management.
“One of our primary missions is to increase awareness of native Irish breeds and how they have formed part of our social and cultural history in Ireland down through the centuries,” explained Mr Niall Moloney, Farm Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. “We are always looking to expand on our collection of native Irish animals from Droimeann cattle to Kerry Bog Ponies and from Irish Wolfhounds to Tamworth pigs, and, in doing so, help to preserve and promote our heritage. Heritage Week provides an ideal opportunity to showcase breeds that are unique to Ireland,” added Mr. Moloney.
Mr Tom Keane of the INRBS commented, “We are excited about partnering with Bunratty for an event that will have a broad focus for people of all ages, whether they are familiar with some or all of the breeds of livestock on display or have little to no knowledge of the breeds. The aim of the event, in addition to the display of livestock and associated crafts involving products derived from the breeds and information provided on the day itself, is to stimulate positive collaborations between the various stakeholders going forward.”
The rare breeds event is included in a comprehensive programme of National Heritage Week (17-25th August) events happening at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and Craggaunowen where the public is being invited to explore the traditions and practices, knowledge and skills passed down through generations.
At Bunratty, animators will showcase life in times past through storytelling and roleplaying as visitors learn about life as a doctor in early 20th century Ireland, a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Policeman, a musician in the 1900s and as a blacksmith. Meanwhile, there will be woodworking demonstrations by TikTok sensation Eoin Reardon, willow weaving and stone masonry workshops, talks on Celtic folklore and mythology, a tour of the 19th century Bunratty House, a traditional thatching demonstration and an introduction to the Regency Plant Collection at the Victorian Walled Garden.
Meanwhile, Craggaunowen will host reenactors and tradespeople from across Clare, who will demonstrate the crafts and traditions of old, including spinning and weaving, blacksmithing, log splitting, bread and butter making, candle making, wool dyeing and bagpipe playing, while stories of mythology and the history of the Ogham stones will be recounted.
Bunratty Heritage Week highlights:
Woodworker Extraordinaire(August 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th) – Bunratty’s resident woodworker and TikTok sensation Eoin Reardon(@PintofPlane) demonstrates how he makes an array of wooden items using old traditional methods as he rescued all sorts of items from a currach to a sugan chair.
A Blacksmith’s Life(August 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th) – Hear the hammer and anvil at work as Bunratty’s resident blacksmith James O’Connor and delve into the rich history of iron working in the unique setting of the courtyard of Bunratty Castle.
Crochet & Cross Stitching in the 19th Century(August 17-20th) – Bunratty’s resident artisan, Liv will speak about and demonstrate the rich history and intricate beauty of crochet and cross-stitching. She will explain how during famine times, low-income households sold their exquisite shawls, blankets, and lacework to wealthy ladies, blending necessity with artistry.
Willow Weaving(August 17th – 25th inclusive) – Tom Delaney of Ould Crafty will make traditional style baskets and other items from locally sourced willow. Regularly featured on TV, Tom also uses willow to make bird feeders, plant supports, boats and willow houses.
Stone Carving & Masonry(August 22nd & 23rd) – Master Stonemason and conservation worker Dominic Keogh will bring the beauty of carved stone to life by demonstrating how the age-old craft has been passed down through generations, preserving the techniques and traditions that have built some of the country’s most iconic structures.
Celtic Folklore & Mythology(August 19th, 20th & 21st) – Drawing inspiration from Ireland’s rich oral tradition, Balor O’Brien will speak about his life collecting folklore and bringing Ireland’s storied past to life.
Traditional Thatching Demonstration(August 19th to 23rd) – Visitors can watch Bunratty’s resident Thatcher Adrian Garvey at work and hear about the skills and materials required to perform this time-honoured craft.
Tours of Bunratty House(daily) – Meet the caretaker of Bunratty House to hear the history of the family who occupied the Georgian-era house, explore the living quarters, bedrooms, nursery, dining room and more.
Regency Plant Collection(August 19th to 23rd) – The gardening team in the Regency Walled Garden discuss the processes and care involved in the planting and maintenance of the many heritage and regency plants currently growing in this idyllic setting.
Music in Irish Society(daily) – Bunratty’s resident musicians tell stories about the place and role of music in Irish society.
The Golden Vale Farmhouse(daily at 10.30am & 2.30pm) – The Bean an Tí will recount what life was like living in an early 20th century home with its large kitchen, grand parlour and well-tended garden. She will demonstrate the baking of bread on an open fire, butter churning, doing laundry in an old-style tub, ironing, and the infamous Singer sewing machine.
The life of the Royal Irish Constabulary Policeman(daily) – Bunratty’s resident Royal Irish Constabulary Policeman will reveal riveting tales of a turbulent period in Irish history.
A Doctor’s Life (daily) – Bunratty’s resident doctor will tell visitors all about his profession at the turn of the 20th century.
Craggaunowen Highlights:
Craggaunowen’s resident blacksmith(Uinseann)pictured ahead of Heritage Week 2024.
Medieval Bagpipes (August 17th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd) – Craggaunowen’s resident craftsman and musician Arno will discuss and demonstrate the medieval bagpipes, one of the oldest musical instruments in human history.
Fulacht Fiadh(11am-3pm, August 24th) – Visitors can join in the lighting resident artisans Tony and Sean of the Bronze Age Fulacht Fiadh, an ancient cooking site.
Basket Making(10am & 5pm, August 24th) – Master artisan Michael Foudy will showcase the timeless craft of basket weaving and the intricate art of transforming reeds into stunning traditional baskets.
Origins of Wool Dyeing(August 17-19th & 23rd at 10am) – Annika showcases and discusses the origins and the art of the ancient practice of wool dying.
Legends & Tales(August 22nd & 24th) – Storyteller Tommy Lanigan will bring visitors on a journey through a rich heritage of folklore and myth
Tales of Irish Mythology(10am, August 20th, 21st and 23rd) – Visitors can listen to tales of Ireland that have been preserved in the oral tradition and later transcribed in the manuscripts of early Celtic Christianity.
Ogham Trail(2.30pm, August 20th, 21st and 22nd) – Stefan brings visitors on a trail exploring the ancient Irish writing tradition of Ogham, an Early Iron age Alphabet used primarily to write the early Irish language and later used in the old Irish language.
Log Splitting(August 19th, 20th & 21st) – Discover the ancient art of log splitting, where wood was processed without the use of metal tools. Join Sean at the Crannóg for a hands-on demonstration and experience the first steps of timber processing using traditional beetles and wooden wedges.
Traditional Irish Seanchaí(August 21st & 23rd) – Join Craggaunowen’s Seanchaí for a traditional Irish folklore storytelling session.
Traditional Butter Making(4pm, August 20th, 21st and 22nd) – Geraldine creates real Irish butter using the traditional practice of butter churning.
Food Display and Bread Baking(2.30pm, August 17-19th & 23rd at 10am) – Craggaunowen animators make bread and oat cakes at the ringfort by grinding oats in the tradition way with a smooth rock and a patient hand before baking bread over an open campfire.
Making & Playing Frame Drums(August 17th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd) – Craftworker Arno will demonstrate the art and skill behind creating these musical instruments, from selecting materials to assembly. Arno will showcase various drumming techniques, bringing the drums to life with entrancing rhythms.
The Art of Spinning(11am, August 20th, 21st and 22nd) – Animator Geraldine discusses and performs the ancient Irish craft of wool spinning on a traditional spindle.
Pole Lathe Demonstration(August 20th & 21st) – Witness the ancient skill of timber craftwork on the traditional pole lathe.
Traditional Blacksmithing(August 18-20th) – Craggaunowen’s resident Blacksmith will demonstrate traditional blacksmithing techniques.
Eight Tipperary Primary Schools, including three from the Thurles area, have been approved for the Hot School Meals Programme.
County:
Official Name:
Address:
Roll Number:
Tipperary.
Scoil Naisiunta Rath Eilte,
Reahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary,
18396E.
Tipperary.
Scoil Naisiunta Na Hinse,
Bouladuff, Thurles, Co. Tipperary,
18350D.
Tipperary.
Scoil Naisiunta Cill Chuimin,
Kilcommon, Thurles, Co. Tipperary,
18285S.
Tipperary.
St Mary’s Parochial National School,
Western Rd, Gortmaloge, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary,
17332T
Tipperary.
Killusty National School,
Killusty North, Killusty, Fethard, Co. Tipperary,
16111V
Tipperary.
Carrig National School,
Ballycommon, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary,
16276H
Tipperary.
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál,
New Inn, Cashel, Co. Tipperary,
13404V
Tipperary.
Rearcross National School,
Rearcross, Co Tipperary,
12124K
The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education being provided and is observed as an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The Hot School Meals Programme was first introduced as a small pilot scheme including just 30 schools. The Programme has since grown significantly in recent years, bringing the total number of schools gaining access, to 2,200 with effect from September next 2024.
The Department of Education has, this year, contacted all of the remaining Primary Schools who have not yet joined the Hot School Meals scheme, asking them to submit expressions of interest in commencing the provision of Hot School Meals. The responses will be reviewed with the aim of including more schools subject to available funding in Budget 2025.
The setting up of a Viking village in Ireland’s mid-west region (Tipperary Limerick and Clare) this August Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August) is expected to attract large crowds from surrounding counties and from abroad. Craggaunowen Castle latter situated, in Co. Clare, (V95 AD7E), will become transformed into a Viking village with medieval games, battle creations and a celebration of Norse arts, crafts and trades.
Vikings To Invade Mid-West Region.
‘The Viking Age at Craggaunowen’ will provide visitors with an insight into how the pagan warriors lived in Ireland during the 9th and 10th centuries.
The highlight of the weekend will be the battle recreations on the Castle Green at 12:00pm, 2:00pm and 4:00pm daily, when warring warriors demonstrate their fierce fighting and defensive skills.
Visitors will be able to don the suits of chain-mail and hold a Viking Helmet, shield and other armoury once used for protection, during the intense battles that raged across Ireland over 1,000 years ago.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to see and experience what life was like during the Viking Age at a recreated village, where historically accurate workshop tents will host crafters demonstrating their trading, leather working, and wicket basket and jewellery making skills.
Kids of all ages will also be able to participate in Viking-themed activities from the “throwing logs” game of Knubb to ‘Hnefatafl’, a game akin to modern-day chess.
Ms Pauline Lenihan, (Site Manager at Craggaunowen) said, “The Vikings have invaded Craggaunowen many times down through the years, but they always visit in peace and with an eagerness to share insights into their culture and rich heritage with the wider public.” “Our open-air museum at Craggaunowen will bring the Viking story to life and we hope that people of all ages will come along to learn more about their day-to-day lives and the real people behind the legend of the ‘men from the north’. It promises to be an educational and entertaining weekend for all the family,” added Ms. Lenihan.
The Clare County Council managed visitor attraction at Craggaunowen, which this year celebraters the 50th anniversary of its foundation by John Hunt of The Hunt Collection, recreates what life would have been like for the Bronze Age inhabitants of Ireland. The attraction features a 16th-century castle and a reconstructed “crannog” showing how Celts lived, worked, and defended themselves. The Brendan Boat, built in 1976 by explorer Tim Severin who successfully completed a 4,500-mile transatlantic crossing, also is on permanent display at Craggaunowen.
Tickets for ‘The Viking Age at Craggaunowen’ are available online at www.craggaunowen.ie(normal admission rates apply).
Proposed Traffic Calming measures and footpath enhancements on N62 relating to O’Donovan Rossa Street, formerly ‘Pudding Lane’ or ‘Jail Street’.
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “The existing conditions on O’Donovan Rossa Street include footpaths with widths ranging from 0.7m at the intersection with Liberty Square to 5m outside the Courthouse. There are no pedestrian crossing facilities on this stretch of road*. The carriageway ranges in width from 5m – 7m, and the road changes from two-way to one-way at an unmarked location outside the Courthouse. There is 145m of on-street pay and display parking.
* Well actually there is one signalised pedestrian crossing on this road, positioned outside the Ursuline Convent, which our planners have failed to identify. Yes, it has a bent set of lights staring into the ground, which was reported 15 months ago, on April 30th, 2023, and which has not been repaired to this date, despite being used by students attending the two secondary schools in the area. See image hereunder.
Signalised pedestrian crossing not located by Thurles planners and accepted by Tipperary Co. Council.
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “Due to the high numbers of HGVs in the study area there are a number of safety concerns for pedestrians. The primary safety concern relates to the lack of pedestrian crossing between the central island car park and the footpaths on the periphery of the Square. This causes members of the public to jaywalk across two lanes of live traffic. This has led to a number of collisions and fatalities in recent years. There was a fatal collision on the northern side of the Square in Autumn 2023, involving a pedestrian being struck by an HGV. The presence of HGVs on narrow roads, particularly O’Donovan Rossa Street, is a risk to safety. Many areas have narrow footpaths, therefore when large spills of pedestrians occur, this can force pedestrians on to the road with live traffic. It is proposed to introduce a raised uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the junction of Liberty Square and O’Donovan Ross Street. The crossing will include tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians. North of this crossing, high end paving is proposed for the footpath surface on both sides of the street from the junction with Liberty Square to the Credit Union building. It is proposed to widen the western side footpath at various sections along the street. This would include significant widening of the footpath in front of the vehicular entrance to The Premier (Hall) and along the section between the Court House and the Fire Station, including the introduction of landscape areas. It is proposed to introduce a bus stop on the eastern side of the road in front of the fire station and a landscaped area between the Fire Station and the Court House. The landscaped areas will include SUDS* features such as rain gardens where possible. There is a proposed uncontrolled crossing located outside the courthouse”.
*[ SuDS – Sustainable Drainage or SuDS is a way of managing rainfall that minimises the negative impacts on the quantity and quality of run-off whilst maximising the benefits of amenity and biodiversity for people and the environment].
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “It is proposed to limit traffic flow to a one-way system so there will be no Northbound traffic permitted beyond the junction with Cuchulain road.”
Quote from Phase 1 Report: “It is proposed to limit traffic flow to a one way, with no vehicles permitted entry to Cuchulain Road at the junction with O’Donovan Rossa Street.”
Locals will be aware of this folly and the bottleneck that will be caused when motorists exit Liberty Square into Parnell Street and turn into Cuchulain Road, (latter now proposed as one way), thenat the Cuchulain Road junction, joining O’Donovan Rossa Street, discover no Northbound traffic is permitted, before exiting once again unto Liberty Square, thus completing a full circle.
This will provide clarity that the street is now operating under a one-way system, eliminating confusion over the informal two-way system that the street currently operates under. This junction is proposed to have a raised table and corner radii tightened through the widening of footpaths at these corners. High end paving is proposed on the footpaths at this junction. These measures are proposed to provide a safer pedestrian experience trough wider footpaths and segregation from traffic through the use of landscaping. The formalised bus stop provides a safer location for passengers, particularly school children attending the schools on the R498 and Brittas Road, to alight while also not obstructing the flow of traffic. O’Donovan Rossa Steet also has proposed planting at the northern end of the scheme. These planted areas are identified for potential SuDS interventions, as they may be suitable rain garden locations similar to those proposed on Kickham Street as part of the N75 Improvement Scheme, subject to detailed design.
Along the western side of O’Donovan Rossa Street, 15m (50ft approx. or 4 car parking spaces) of on-street parking is being removed to allow for footpath widening and provision of SUDs measures.
Along the eastern side of O’Donovan Rossa Street, 4 car parking spaces are being removed to facilitate the introduction of a bus stop. With a 48 seater bus averaging in size of 12m (40ft approx.) and the 4 car parking spaces to be removed measuring 15m (50ft); one must ask where will the other 3 school buses serving the needs of the CBS secondary pupils now park.
In our report of July 22nd found HERE and entitled “Proposed Liberty Square Layout Phase 2”, our readers will be aware of a loss of 19 car parking spaces, including a Taxi Rank, under this new proposed, long overdue, Phase 2 upgrade. This 19 car parking spaces to be lost in Liberty Square, when added to the 21 car parking spaces, due to be axed on Parnell Street, and the latest 8 car parking spaces reported above on O’Donovan Rossa Street, we now calculate the removal in totalof 48 now lost/removed spaces. This figure calculated, immediately calls into question the figures supplied by the authors of this poorly prepared report, which they claim is a net gain of 30 spaces.[50-48 = 2]. Again where these extra promised 50 car parking spaces are be provided ‘northwest of the Liberty Square car park’ remains a secret to myself and to most other residents of Thurles. It has been suggested that an announcement by councillors of the purchase of a new field, ‘is currently being muted’.
Did Tipperary Co. Council actually pay for this planning report?
Vocals: American folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger. Lyrics: American folk singer-songwriter Tom Paxton. [The song is about the American school system, that stands accused of misinforming children giving them an optimistic outlook on history and just one of many protest songs written by Tom Paxton].
What Did You Learn In School Today?
What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Washington never told a lie, I learned that soldiers seldom die, I learned that everybody’s free, And that’s what the teacher said to me, And that’s what I learned in school today, That’s what I learned in school.
What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that policemen are my friends, I learned that justice never ends, I learned that murderers die for their crimes, Even if we make a mistake sometime, And that’s what I learned in school today, That’s what I learned in school
What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our government must be strong; It’s always right and never wrong! Our leaders are the finest men, And we elect them again and again, And that’s what I learned in school today, That’s what I learned in school.
What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine? What did you learn in school today, Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad, I learned about the great once we have had. We fought in Germany and in France And some day I might get my chance. And that’s what I learned in school today, That’s what I learned in school.
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