Galway city and county puts its best on show

Date Published: 16-Aug-2012

 Galway’s rich heritage is set to be celebrated in a range of events across the city and county as part of National Heritage Week, which takes place from this Saturday to Sunday, August 26.

Almost 120 different events are planned from Ballinasloe to Inishbofin and will take in everything from genealogy workshops to talks on the history of the Connemara pony.

Organised annually by the Heritage Council, the week is aimed at giving people an appreciation of their heritage and culture and to foster an understanding of the importance these area’s roles in public life.

Given the radical changes in almost all aspects of life that have taken place across Galway in recent years, the highlighting of the county’s heritage and past now becomes a valuable and interesting practice more than ever before.

This year the Heritage Council is focussing on Ireland’s built heritage, and many building of historic and cultural importance will be open to the public in Galway throughout the week.

2012’s local events programme is as strong as it’s ever been, with something catering for everyone interested in all aspects of the heritage of the city and county.

Connemara National Park is set to become a hive of activity for the week as an array of events have been organised, with a butterfly walk and children’s storytelling session among the many events planned for the week. In the east and south of the county, there’s a multitude of events taking place, including the famous ‘gathering of the boats’ at Kinvara this weekend and a tour of Athenry’s historic town walls.

Meanwhile, those hoping to learn more about Galway city’s colourful past will have the opportunity to explore some of the most interesting aspects of the city in a series of expert-guided walks and talks throughout the week.

With no shortage of activities on offer and the distraction of the Galway Arts Festival and Races over, Galway natives and visitors are being strongly encouraged to make use of the week to discover some of the county’s hidden gems and multifaceted history.

The majority of the events listed on the pages of this week’s Tribune are free and further details about each event can be found on the National Heritage Week website, www.heritageweek.ie – including their suitability for children and whether or not they are accessible to wheelchairs.

There is also a search facility where people can find events in areas in which they are most interested, or on specific dates.