Heritage Council in Kilkenny to open its grounds for day of family fun for Heritage Week

The Heritage Council in Kilkenny is opening its doors and inviting the public to join them in celebrating National Heritage Week this Saturday, August 24th. The free event is particularly suitable for families, with activities including face painting, foraging, exploring the world of bats, Irish mythology, tours of the Heritage Council building and of course, free ice cream and burgers.

The event is part of Heritage Week’s ‘Wild Child Day’, a themed day across the country encouraging children and families to explore the heritage in their locality.

It takes place between 12pm and 4pm at the Heritage Council’s headquarters beside St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower on Church Lane, Kilkenny, and tickets can be booked for free on the Heritage Week website at heritageweek.ie

Three of the Heritage Council’s Heritage in Schools Specialists will be set up in the majestic Heritage Council gardens during the day to talk children through their specialist area of heritage expertise.

- Rose Wareham is an experienced forest school leader specialising in woodland conservation, plant identification, spoon carving and weaving craft activities

- Sarah Myers is a historian who has studied Ireland’s ancient manuscripts which she helps children to understand and recreate.

- Albert Nolan is a bat expert who helps children discover how they are similar to bats, where bats live, what to do if you find a bat and myths and legends around bats.

Commenting on the event, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan, said:

“In the Heritage Council, we are fortunate enough to work every day in such a magnificent building with such beautiful gardens right in the heart of Kilkenny, and are always very keen for the public to share this space with us when possible. National Heritage Week, and this event in particular, is an opportunity for families and for all members of the public to delve into heritage with our Heritage in Schools specialists, to tour the building here, and to enjoy this green space haven within Kilkenny city.”

National Heritage Week is coordinated by the Heritage Council in partnership with the Local Authority Heritage Networks, Fáilte Ireland, National Lottery, the OPW, Local Authority Waters Programme, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Irish Landmark Trust.