Pictures: Traditional building skills on display as Heritage Week begins in Kilkenny

National Heritage Week, Ireland’s largest annual celebration of heritage, got under way on Saturday in Kilkenny.

To mark the opening, the Heritage Council hosted a showcase of traditional building skills at its historic headquarters in Kilkenny.

Visitors had the opportunity to watch a range of master craftspeople at work, keeping alive skills that have been passed down through generations, but are now increasingly at risk of being lost. Photographer Vicky Comerford was on hand to capture some great pics.

There was live demonstrations of glassmaking, lime plastering, stone cutting, blacksmithing and thatching, offering a unique insight into the craft and expertise that have shaped Ireland’s built heritage.
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Guided tours also brought visitors inside the Heritage Council’s 18th-century headquarters, Áras na hOidhreachta, that previously served as the Bishop’s Palace for 800 years, now one of many historic buildings opening their doors to the public as part of Heritage Open Doors. The initiative started 20 years ago and it is nationwide this year for the first time, allowing more people than ever before to explore significant buildings across the country.

There are over 50 events taking place locally this week for Heritage Week.