More than 120 events are scheduled to take place in Galway during National Heritage Week which runs from Saturday August 22- Sunday August 30. One of the biggest highlights is the return of the immensely popular Loughrea Medieval Festival next weekend. This year the festival is entitled The Gathering of the Clans, and it will be jam packed full of free, fun events for all the family. Check out www.loughreamedievalfestival.com, for more details.
Or why not visit Claregalway Castle for talks, tours and a gruesome display of combat and archery. Elsewhere, The Friends of Merlin Woods have arranged a series of walks around Merlin Woods to look for birds, pinemartens, stoats and bats. This will be followed by a seminar lead by Caroline and Colm Stanley and Dr Jim Higgins that will examine the natural, cultural, and archaeological heritage of the Merlin Woods.
There are many events that follow the industrial heritage theme of 2015 National Heritage Week. Archaeologist Jerry Sullivan will discuss the historic roads, railways, and bridle paths of central Connemara on 22 August, this will be followed by a field trip to the area the next day. The annual Heritage Lecture will highlight the work of Galway’s greatest entrepreneur Fr. Peter Daly on August 24.
There will be Flat Bar Gate Restoration demonstrations at Dartfield Horse Museum, a walk and talk by local archaeologist Bernadette Doherty about the industrial heritage surrounding Woodlaw House, there will be a tour of the historic cast and wrought iron metalwork of Bohermore Cemetery and the Ballindooley area and what industrial heritage festival is complete without a canal walk....one leaves the doors of Galway Cathedral at 3.30 this coming Saturday.
These are just a flavour od some of the many, many events that will take place in Galway city and county over National Heritage Week. To find out more go to www.heritageweek.ie of pick up a brochure from your local library or tourist office.
