NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK KICKS OFF ON SATURDAY WITH A ...

NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK KICKS OFF ON SATURDAY WITH OVER 1500 EVENTS??

OVER 600,000 PEOPLE EXPECTED AT EVENTS NATIONWIDE??

NUMBER OF BUILT HERITAGE PROPERTIES TO OPEN FOR FIRST TIME

Tuesday 14^th August: On Saturday, National Heritage Week will kick off and run for eight days until Sunday 26^th August. Throughout the week, over 1500 events, the majority of which are FREE, will take place across Ireland. Over 600,000 people are expected to attend events, meaning a huge knock-on economic impact for towns and villages across the country.?

The message from the Heritage Council, coordinators of National Heritage Week, is to GET INVOLVED. To find out what is happening throughout the week, log on to www.heritageweek.ie, download the free iPhone / Android Heritage Week Event App or pick up a copy of the Event Guide in your local tourist information office.?

This year, the Heritage Council has sought to focus on Ireland?s Built Heritage. During the week, over 600 built heritage events will take place with many sites and houses being made accessible to the public for the first time. ?These include Brownhall in Donegal, Free Masons Hall in Dublin, Courtown House in Kilcock, Stradbally Hall House in Laois, Kilpeacon House in Limerick, Hamwood House and Gardens in Meath, and Bracklyn House in Westmeath.

Speaking ahead of the week, Isabell Smyth, Heritage Council Communications Manager commented, ?2012 is shaping up to be the biggest National Heritage Week to date with over 1500 events registered to take place nationwide. This year will be particularly unique in that a number of built heritage properties will open their doors to the public for the first time. Ireland?s built heritage supports over 35,000 jobs and contributes in the order of ?1.5 billion to the national economy. The value of our built heritage as an economic resource has for too long been misunderstood and underplayed.? This is particularly evident in the case of our tourism offering. . The range and quality of our built heritage environment is a powerful motivating factor for wider tourism and related visitor expenditure, with 1/5 of all out of state visitor expenditure closely attributable to our built heritage.???

The sheer diversity of events taking place during National Heritage Week is what makes it unique. Seven years ago just 500 events took place for National Heritage Week, this year the week has hit a record high.? We expect over 600,000 people to attend events across the country during the week and we hope that towns and villages across Ireland will experience a knock-on economic effect as people attend events?, added Ms. Smyth.??

For those with an interest in photography, the annual National Heritage Week Photo Competition is now also open for entries. Images do not have to be taken during National Heritage Week but must have been taken in 2012. This year?s theme is Built Heritage. Simply submit an image(s) that you think captures Ireland?s Built Heritage. Images can be the interior or exterior of your favourite building, monument or ruin (historic or contemporary), a feature that captures your imagination (a window, door, handle, stairway), an interesting streetscape, a group of buildings, or examples of where built heritage meets natural heritage. To enter, upload your pictures to the official Heritage Week Photo Competition Site: http://pix.ie/group/heritageweek . The closing date for entries is 31^st August 2012.?

To find out more about National Heritage Week pick up one of the 50,000 copies of the National Heritage Week Event Guide which are now available free throughout the country in F?ilte Ireland Tourist Offices, Libraries, OPW Sites, Bus Eireann Stations, County Council Offices etc. Complete event listings are also available on the National Heritage Week website, www.heritageweek.ie or on the FREE iPhone / Android Heritage Week App. You can also follow us on Twitter @heritageweek or the Heritage Week Facebook page.

Just some of the built heritage properties which are not normally open to the public but which are opening for National Heritage Week:

• Cork ? (No public access normally) Guided Tour of Traditional Farm Yard:? (20^th August 19.00 ? 21.00) (Free) A Guided tour, with Peter Scanlan, of traditional farm buildings with a display of old farm equipment. Venue: Home of John and Cathy Browne, Prospect House, Carrigadrohid,? Co. Cork. Organiser Name: Con Dunne, Contact Address: Killinardrish Carrigadrohid Co. Cork. Email: condunne1@hotmail.com? Telephone: 087 6904349
• Cork - (No public access normally) Public Access to Mercy Order Gardens: (Sunday 19^th August 14.00 ? 16.00) (Free) Macroom Mercy Order of Nuns welcome visitors to their gardens! A secluded treed cloister of creative earth adornment and a building model for sustainable communities. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Organiser Name: Teddy Cook Contact Address: Kilbarry, Macroom, Co. Cork. Email: macroomenv@hotmail.com
• Donegal ? (No public access normally) Brownhall Building Conservation: (23^rd August 14.30 ? 16. 30) (Free)? Presentation with Tour by Nicholas Prins, highlighting building restoration and preservation efforts at Brownhall, a 17th and 18th Century house. Nicholas Prins is an Irish Architectural Conservation Specialist credited with restoring a number of Irish churches, houses, and buildings. Limited parking; no toilet or catering facilities. Organiser Name: John & Radine Hamilton Contact Address: Brownhall Email: brownhall@eircom.net Telephone: 353 74 9734007
• Dublin ? (No public access normally) Free Masons Hall: (20^th ? 25^th August 11.30 ? 13.00 and 18^th ? 26^th August 14.30 ? 16.00) (Free) Visitors will be guided through the rooms of this Victorian Hall ? home of the headquarters of Irish Freemasonry since 1869. Organiser Name: Rebecca Hayes Contact Address: 17 Molesworth Street Dublin 2 Email: archive@freemason.ie Telephone: (01) 6761337
• Dublin - (No public access normally) Outhouse Tour and Historical Talk: (21^st August 15.00 ? 18.00) (Free) Outhouse LGBT Community Resource Centre is based in an eighteenth century house located at the northern end of Capel Street. We are hosting an open house from 3 ? 6 with a talk about the history of the building. Organiser Name: ?ine Beamish Contact Address: 105 Capel St. Dublin 1, Email: aine@outhouse.ie, Telephone: 01 873 4999
• Dublin - ?(Public access intermittently during year and for Heritage Week) Deepwell House & Garden Tours: (18^th ? 26^th August 10.00 ? 13.00)? (?7 for house& garden) Occupied continuously since the 1740s, the early cellar vaults of ?Fairy Hill? survive but its private beach became a swamp after the first railway in Ireland was opened in 1834. Permission was granted to Richard S. Guinness in 1842 to fill in that swamp and create a walled garden. Then standing on a 1.2ha site overlooking Dublin Bay with Howth Head on the skyline a new house was built in 1857. It was re-named, reflecting the importance of the spring well which provided water for local homes and for watering horses. The present owners acquired the house in 1942. ?Deepwell is open throughout Heritage Week. A visit to the house to view the art is guided by tour guide. Organiser Name: Breda Conway. Contact Address: Deepwell, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Email: breda.conway@ireland.com Telephone: 01 2887407
• Dublin ? (Public access intermittently during year) Guided Tour Of Tibradden House: (18^th ? 24^th August & 26^th August 14.00 ? 18.00)? (Free) Guided tour of Tibradden House and local history lecture. Tibradden is a handsome square Victorian house of three bays, built on the site of a Georgian farmhouse in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, overlooking the city and Dublin Bay. The present house was built in 1860 for Thomas Hosea Guinness on land belonging to his wife, Mary Davis, as a wedding present from her father. The design was produced by a Dublin architect, Joseph Maguire, and is his largest and grandest commission. It was constructed by Matthew Gahan, a local builder from nearby Whitechurch. Organiser Name: Selina Guinness Contact Address: Tibradden, Mutton Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Email: selina.guinness@iadt.ie Telephone: 083 1009099
• Kildare ? (No public access normally) Courtown House, Kilcock: (18^th August 14.30 ? 17.00) (Free) Courtown House and Demense is a superb Georgian period residence, which was built c. 1815 by the Aylmer family. Visit by kind invitation of owners. During the 1950s John Heuston and his daughter Angelica who lived there entertained such stars as Maureen O?Hara, Gregory Peck, John Wayne and others. Organiser Name: Pat Given Contact Address: Firmount, Clane, Co. Kildare Email: patkgiven@eircom.net Telephone: 045 868089 (h) 086 243 2359 (m)
• Kildare - (Open intermittently during year) Guided Tour of Kildrought House: (18^th August 10.30 ? 12.30) (Free) Guided Tour by the owner. Limited number of guests permitted ? so please BOOK IN ADVANCE to secure a place. Kildrought House is a Dublin Merchant?s house from 1719 in the heart of Celbridge. Kildrought House was built by Robert Baillie in 1719 to the design of Kildare architect Thomas Burgh who also designed the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. Organiser Name: Sean Darcy, ?sean.darcy@ie.dsv.com, ?087 2552468
• Kildare - (Open intermittently during year) Guided Tour of Killadoon House: (18th August 15.00 ? 16.00) Guided tour by the owner. Limited number of guests permitted ? so please BOOK IN ADVANCE to secure a place. Killadoon House was built circa 1765 and it?s intact decorative scheme dates from the 1820s. From the outside, Killadoon appears a modest Georgian villa of fine proportions with little or-namentation, apart from the fenestration and central tripartite doorway. However, inside Killadoon, there is a sense of grandeur in the noble proportions of the rooms and their detailing. This is typical of Irish country houses of this date: generally plain on the exterior with many windows, just as the Georgian terraces of Dublin display little ornament (apart from their door cases and fanlights). This belies the richness of their interiors with extraordinary rococo and neo-classical plasterwork.Organiser Name: Sean Darcy Email: sean.darcy@ie.dsv.com Telephone: 087 2552468
• Kilkenny ? (Open intermittently during the year) Tour of Ballysallagh House and Garden: (18^th ? 26^th August 9.00 ? 13.00) (?5 adult, ?2.50 OAP / Student / Children) Introduction to the 18th century house in the local landscape. Ballysallagh House, in the hills north of Kilkenny, is a charming example of an unspoiled house of the early Georgian period. The Purcell family, military allies of the Earls of Ormond, held the surrounding lands, which they forfeited under Cromwell but these were subsequently restored to Nicholas Purcell under a lease.Organiser Name: Geralyn White, Contact Address: Ballysallagh House Kilkenny, Email: geralynmwhite@gmail.com Telephone: 086 2322105
• Laois ? (No public access normally) Stradbally Hall House Tours: (18^th ? 24^th August 09.00 ? 13.00) (?10 per person) Built in 1772, the Cosby ancestral home is located on 550 acres of rolling woodland, streams and countryside surrounded by ancient oaks and chestnut trees. Home to international boutique arts and music festival Electric Picnic. Come join us on daily house tours throughout Heritage Week. Organiser Name: Thomas Cosby Contact Address: Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois. Email: thomascosby@eircom.net Telephone: 086 8519272
• Limerick ? (No public access normally) Kilpeacon House Open For Heritage Week: (18^th ? 23^rd August 12.00 ? 16.00) (Free) Detached three-bay two-storey country house, built c. 1810. This elegant villa, built for Edward Cripps Villiers, is attributed to Sir Richard Morrison. Special opening of property to public. Property can be viewed during times listed. Maximum 25 people. Organiser Name: Heather Holloway, Contact Address: Eagle Lodge, O?Connell Avenue, Limerick. Email: heather.holloway@eaglelodge.ie Telephone: 087 7651988
• Limerick - (Open intermittently and for Heritage Week) Guided Tour of Ballinvirick House & Gardens: (18^th ? 26^th August 10.14.00)? (?5) Visit Ballinvirick House and Gardens for a tour of this early Georgian home with examples of many original features. Max 20 people per tour.Ballinvirick is an example of an early Georgian Irish Country House with formal Gardens, situated about halfway between Askeaton & Adare, County Limerick. The house contains several original architectural features and the property stands on 16 acres of parkland, woodland, formal & informal gardens. The house is presently undergoing renovations. Organiser Name: Kate Fleming, Ballinvirick House, Askeaton, Co. Limerick, ?katefleming@ireland.com 087 2559216
• Meath ? (No public access normally) Hamwood House and Gardens: (18^th ? 26^th August 14.00 ? 18.00) (?5 for House; ?5 for Garden ) Hamwood House was built circa 1764 by Charles Hamilton, agent for the Dukes of Leinster, whose family have continuously occupied the property since that date. It was erected as a mid-sized, lime-washed Palladian villa of unusual design. Organiser Name: Anne Hamilton Contact Address: Hamwood, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Email: Telephone: 01 8255210
• Offaly ?- (Open intermittently and /for Heritage Week) Loughton House: (18^th ? 26^th August 14.00 ? 16.00)? (?5 including refreshment) Guided tour of main rooms of house and flower and vegetable garden including walled garden, water garden and woodland walk. Organiser Name: Dorothy Reilly Contact Address: Loughton, Moneygall, Co. Offaly Email: loughtonreilly@eircom,net Telephone: 050545943
• Tipperary ? (Open for heritage week) Clashleigh Open House & Garden: (18^th ? 26^th August 09.00 -13.00) (?8 per person) Private house and gardens opened especially for Heritage Week. Clashleigh House is a lovely period Georgian home with fine antique furniture and objects throughout. Built in 1810 on the site of an earlier 18th century dwelling, it is a fourteen acre walled estate nestled in a tranquil valley near the lovely Knockmealdown Mountains. Contact Address: Clashleigh House, Clogheen, Co. Tipperary. Email: lizphysio@eircom.net Telephone: 086 8185334
• Waterford ? (open intermittently during year and for Heritage Week) Guided Historical Tour Of Dromana House: (18^th ? 26^th August 14.00 ? 18.00) (?5 House, ?5 Gardens, ?3.50 Concession for both) ?Dromana House is a true gem, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the strikingly beautiful, unspoilt river Blackwater. It is surrounded by a 600 acre privately owned estate with numerous woodland and garden walks. Several interesting historic follies are also to be seen throughout the grounds including an ancient outer fortification, boathouse and slipway down to the river. This period property has been lovingly maintained by its owners whose family have lived on this location since 1200, the present owner being the 21^st generation. Organiser Name: Barbara Grubb, Contact Address: Dromana House & Gardens, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford. Email: bgrubb@eircom.net; Telephone: 024 96144 or 086 8186305.
• Waterford ? (Open intermittently during year and for heritage week) Curraghmore House & Gardens Guided Tours: (19^th, 21^st & 23^rd Augsut 10.00 -16.00) (?5 Shell House & Gardens Tour ?10 House Tour, ?15 House, Shell House & Garden Tour) One of Ireland?s foremost and most intact estates that had been developed over hundreds of years and is unique in being occupied by the Power/Beresford family for 900 years. Tours of the House, Shell House, and Gardens are by appointment: 051 387102). The House and Gardens will not be open to visitors during the walk/run on 22nd August. Organiser Name: John Greene, Contact Address: The Square, Donabate, Co. Dublin. Email: info@curraghmorehouse.ie Telephone: 051 387101 or 051 387134
• Westmeath ? (Not normally open to public) Tours of Bracklyn House: (19^th August 15.00 ? 16.30) (Free) Former home of the Fetherstonhaugh family. A substantial and delicately detailed neoclassical country house, which retains its early form, character and much of its early fabric. Tour will comprise a walk through the grounds, entry to the house and a talk on the Fetherstonhaugh family history by Michael Murphy. Special thanks to the Murphy Family (present owners) in helping this event take place. Organiser Name: Bernadette Clancy, Contact Address: 3 Lacora Glen Delvin Co. Westmeath, Email: bbclancy@eircom.net, Telephone: 044 9664658
• Wexford ? (Open intermittently during year and for Heritage Week) Guided Tours Of Newtownbarry House, Garden Visit & Woodland Walk: (18^th ? 24^th August 14.00 -18.00) (?6 House & Garden)? Detailed descriptions of historical house and architecture with dates of building, architecture, family history. Newtownbarry House (built 1883 ? 89) is one of the last country houses designed by Charles Lanyon (1813-1889), here assisted by his pupil W.H. Lynn (1829-1915) and his son John (d. 1900). Newtownbarry is almost entirely a new structure, both extraordinarily austere and Italianate at the same time. ?Brief history of local town and dates of garden (when built, when restored) as well as plant species.Organiser Name: Clody & Alice Norton, ?Newtownbarry House, Bunclody (near Enniscorthy), Co. Wexford. 053 9376383 / 087 0569805

?ENDS

Further information:

Michelle Tritschler, MKC Communications, 01 7038604 / 086 3846630

Isabell Smyth, Heritage Council, 056 777 0 777 /? 087 9676889

?

Note to Editor:

The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland?s national heritage. National heritage includes Monuments, Archaeological objects, Heritage objects, Architectural heritage, Flora, Fauna, Wildlife habitats, Landscapes, Seascapes, Wrecks, Geology, Heritage gardens and parks, and Inland waterways.

Established under the Heritage Act 1995, and operating under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht, the Heritage Council provides advice to the Minister, and partners and networks with Local Authorities and a wide range of other organisations and individuals to promote Ireland?s heritage.

National Heritage Week is co-ordinated in Ireland by the Heritage Council in conjunction with the Department of the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht,and is part of European Heritage Days, which is celebrated in over 49 countries across Europe.

Source: http://www.heritageweek.ie/news/national-heritage-week-kicks-off-on-saturday-with-a-record-1500-events

earthquake california earthquake california roy orbison the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk