Events in Offaly to celebrate Grand Canal during Heritage Week

A SERIES of events have been organised by the Heritage Boats Association, the Inland Waterways Association and Waterways Ireland on the Grand Canal for Heritage Week

The objective is to highlight the section of the canal between Tullamore and the Shannon (The Grand Extension).

The  events will extend over three days, from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25.

A fleet of heritage vessels will transit from the Shannon to Tullamore for the events.

On Friday night activities commence with a book launch – "Ireland's Grand Canal: People, Peat & Porter" – in the Pull Inn, Pullough at 8pm.

On Saturday, Offaly History Centre in Tullamore is the venue for a talk on the military importance of the canal, given by Sean O'Reilly.

The Grand Extension Certificate will also be launched by IWAI President, Kay Baxter while there will be two photographic exhibitions.

Sunday sees a presentation by Waterways Ireland entitled "A Boatman's Journey" while there will also be a showcase of heritage boats and bolinder engines by the HBA and IWAI.

Demonstrations will also be given by Tullamore Canoe Club, the Phoenix Angling Club and Offaly Search and Recovery.

Admission is free to all events and all are welcome.

Meanwhile, following the footsteps of St. Brochan, free entry to Clonmacnoise, celebrating traditional craft in Offaly at the Esker Arts Centre and recalling the IRA attack on Clare Barracks in 1920 are among the many free events taking place across Offaly during National Heritage Week 2024, from Saturday August 17^th to Sunday August 25^th.

Local heritage groups and organisers, families, communities and individuals in Offaly have responded to this year’s theme of ‘Connections, Routes and Networks’ by organising events showcasing the best of what Offaly’s local heritage has to offer. Well over 2,000 events will take place nationwide with a full list available on the National Heritage Week website.

Coordinated by the Heritage Council, some other highlights from this year’s National Heritage Week programme in Offaly also include:

Explore the sculptures of Lough Boora Discovery Park (23 August, 2.30pm to 4.30pm) - It is over 20 years since the first sculptures were commissioned at Lough Boora. In 2024 a programme of works has commenced to care for this significant collection. Sculptor Michael Burke is guiding this process and will lead a walk to key sculptures to give an insight into what is taking place.

Bolinder Engine Display, Brigid’s Place Tullamore (25 August, 3pm to 5pm) – Heritage Boat Association members will display and demonstrate vintage engines from old canal boats.

Pollinator Workshop for Children – Tullamore Library (22 August, 11am to 12pm) - A pollinator workshop aimed for children, eight years old and above. Workshop consists of an interactive presentation where children become beekeepers with an educational honeybee.

The Crotty Schism - A Brief History, Crotty’s Church and Malt Store Birr (22 August, 10am to 11am) - A look back at the Ireland of 1820 to 1850, when the people of Birr took part in the largest ever Schism in the Catholic Church and 99% of Birr Catholics changed their religion.

Commenting, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said: “Browsing through the over 2,000 events taking place during National Heritage Week this year gives a sense of the shear variety and colour of our nation’s heritage – they cover nature, culture, music, traditions, folklore, writing, history, architecture, archaeology, archives and so much more. It is also a sign of the strength of the sector, the depth of knowledge people have and their generosity in sharing that knowledge. Many of the events are volunteer led, organised by dedicated people who seek no recompense or adulation. We must never take these people for granted and I will continue unapologetically to mention them at every opportunity, such is their importance not only to National Hertiage Week, but to the preservation of Irish heritage in general.”

Two themed days will take place during National Heritage Week. On Saturday 24^th of August, Wild Child Day encourages children and families to explore the heritage in their locality. On Sunday, 25^th of August, the Heritage Council and the Local Authority Waters Programme invite people to explore National Heritage Week projects that celebrate water and our connections with it.