Athlone Castle Visitor Centre will once again deliver an exciting and engaging programme of events during National Heritage Week 2022 in collaboration with a broad selection of specialist heritage experts, facilitators, artisans and historians and supported by the Heritage Council under the Irish Walled Towns Network 2022 Interpretation Fund.
'Athlone Castle Brings History Alive' will feature onsite demonstrations highlighting the history and heritage of Athlone. The events will span key periods in Athlone’s historic walled town and castle’s history. Aligning with the theme of sustainable heritage for this year’s Heritage Week, the castle programme has been devised to appeal to all ages, interests and ethnicities.
Heritage Week events will commence on Saturday, August 13, at 1.30pm with a demonstration by Tóla Collier of Loach Living History. Tola’s demonstration of the Williamite era, entitled 'A revolution in arms, Matchlocks and Muskets in the Williamite War', will showcase a display of the uniforms, equipment, and firearms used during this important historical period in Ireland. This demonstration will take place on Saturday, August 13, at 1.30pm. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for further information.
On Tuesday, August 16, join John Lonergan as he delivers a virtual talk on the recently completed conservation works on Athlone’s town walls. John is a well-respected stonemason who was engaged in the conservation works of Athlone’s historic medieval town walls. He will speak about the tools and methods used to preserve the medieval masonry walls as well as the importance of preserving Irish built heritage. This pre-recorded talk will be available on Athlone Castle’s social media channels on Tuesday, August 16, from 1pm. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for further information.
The popular ‘Storm the Castle’ event makes a welcome return to Athlone Castle on Wednesday, August 17. Athlone Castle will open its doors to the museum, visitor centre and grounds, for all to attend, free of charge. Explore the Castle Visitor Centre during an open day with the Society for Creative Anachronism who will be on site with displays relating to life in a bygone Medieval village. With this year’s theme of sustainable heritage, the message of the day will be: Waste not, want not. A selection of period costumes will also be available for visitors to try on. Access to Athlone Castle’s free day will be from 9.30am-5pm. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for further information.
Master bowyer, Jack Pinson, will once again return to Athlone Castle to demonstrate historical longbow-making techniques, concentrating on the medieval military archery. Jack will demonstrate a depiction of longbow making as it might have looked during the 100 year’s war in the 15th century. Jack’s demonstration will take place at Athlone Castle on Friday, August 19, at 1pm. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for further information.
On Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21, visitors will have the opportunity to rediscover the joys of traditional games with a weekend of fun in Athlone Castle’s courtyard. Visitors can enjoy playing popular games including, X&Os, Tumbling Tower, Connect Four, Snakes and Ladders, Hopscotch and more. A selection of period costumes will also be available for visitors to try on. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for further information.
Athlone Castle’s Heritage Week celebrations will culminate with the return of Custard Pie Puppets on Sunday, August 21. This popular puppet theatre company will showcase a unique, Irish adaptation of a ‘Punch and Judy’ show. Custard Pie Puppets will perform two ‘Punch and Judy’ shows for children. Booking is essential as places are limited. The two shows will commence at 1pm and 2.30pm. For further details on booking this event, visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events or please contact Athlone Castle by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 090 6442130.
All the Heritage Week events at Athlone Castle, Co. Westmeath are supported by the Heritage Council under the Irish Walled Towns Network 2022 Interpretation Fund.
