National Heritage Week, 2012 will be marked with the hosting of a very special event in Ballina, Co Mayo, on Sunday, August 26. On that date Mayo County Council will hold an open day in the beautiful newly restored heritage garden adjoining the Provincial Bank building on Pearse Street in the town. The building and its garden have been refurbished for the purposes of housing the Jackie Clarke Collection of historical Irish material. The collection will open permanently to the public in its new home on Pearse Street later this year.
In the meantime, to mark National Heritage Week, Mayo County Council will open the walled Victorian garden, which can be accessed from an entrance on Walsh Street, on the afternoon of August 26. This is a unique opportunity for the public to catch a sneak preview of this once private garden which will, with the opening of the Jackie Clarke Collection, become a new urban green space open to all.
The stunning garden has been designed to reflect all things Irish and has features of interest to young and old including woven willow seats, a wild flower meadow, an exhibition wall, vegetable plots, an outdoor room and an incredible variety of plants and flowers – many that are native to Ireland.
The National Heritage Week open day will be a real community event. Everyone is welcome to visit the garden on the afternoon of August 26 when live entertainment will be provided courtesy of local musicians and choirs together with children’s entertainment and refreshments.
