Kilkenny to host the National Scything Championships

Song of the Scythe, the National Scything Championships and a celebration of Semi Natural Grasslands, is to take place in Kilkenny as part of National Heritage Week.

This Saturday, August 17, Ireland’s national scything championships takes place on Rathbeagh ring fort on the banks of the River Nore near Ballyraggett.

Up to 50 of Ireland’s scything enthusiasts will gather to celebrate and compete to take home the national title
The event is hosted by the Acorn Project and expert scything practitioner Chris Hayes will oversee proceedings.

As a traditional skill, scything is an ideal way to manage heritage sites and sensitive habitats.
On the day participants will have the opportunity to scythe areas of the ring fort and improve their skills, aswell as learning about the value of semi natural grasslands as a habitat and their value for improving water quality.

There will be a series of other complimentary activities on the day with mini talks and workshops with ecologist Dr. Fiona MacGowna, tool demo for peening and tool maintenance, poetry performance, rope making with natural grasses and the value of hedgerows with Hedgerow Ireland.
For more information, or to book, visit theacor nproject.ie/event/song-o f-the-scythe-national-scy thing-championships