Heritage Week 2023 in Laois
Heritage Week 2023 takes place from 12th – 20th August, and there is a wide variety of events happening in Laois, which explore and celebrate the county’s built, natural, and cultural heritage.
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New Conservation and Pollination Project Launched (June 2021)
Laois Heritage Projects Awarded Funding under Community Heritage Grants (May 2021)
Laois Heritage Projects Awarded Funding under Community Heritage Grants
Community Monuments Fund 2021 Launched
New Approaches to Climate Change Speaker Series
Gardening for Biodiversity Relaunched
Conservation Grants Deadline Extended
https://laois.ie/deadline-extended-for-conservation-grants/
In your Nature Podcast Launched
Abbeyleix Almanac TV
https://laois.ie/abbeyleix-almanac-tv/
New guide shows how to look after wildlife in your garden
April 2020
New guide tells the story of the Heath
August 2019
A new publication on the heritage of County Laois has been launched by Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Willie Aird. The Heritage Guide to the Heath by Dr Eoin Sullivan is published by Wordwell Books as part of the Archaeology ireland “Heritage Guide Series”, funded by the Heritage Council and Laois County Council.
Speaking at the launch at Heath House on Thursday 22nd August, Cllr Willie Aird, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “I am delighted that this new guide will raise awareness of the enormous heritage importance of the heath, and I am delighted that the Principal of the Heath National School has offered to help in distributing the guide in the area, and a free copy will be going to every family with children attending the Heath School, in September.”
Pictured at the launch of the Heritage Guide to the Heath, Catherine Casey (Laois Heritage Officer), Dr Eoin Sullivan (Author), Dr Sharon Greene (Editor of Archaeology Ireland) and Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Cllr Willie Aird
Richly illustrated with map, photographs and an original reconstruction drawing by artist Dave Pollock, the guide aims to explore and draw attention to the importance of the archaeology of the Heath, and in particular the Bronze Age and Iron Age funeral monuments known as Ring Barrows.
A barrow is essentially a mound of earth over one or more burials. There are several forms of barrow with the type on the Heath being all ring barrows – with a circular trench around a central burial and an external circular bank. Barrows can range in date from the Late Neolithic to the Early Iron Age (c.3000 BC – AD 300), though the classic ‘ring-barrow’ is generally regarded as being of Early Iron Age date (c.300 BC – AD 400).
Group pictured at the start of Dr. Eoin Sullivan’s guided walk – “The Heath – Prehistoric Connections” at The Heath on Sunday during Heritage Week. Also in the photo were Catherine Casey ( Laois Heritage Officer ) and local members of Laois Heritage.
The Great heath contains 14 ring barrows, with nine of these easily visible on the surface, and eight publicly accessible on the ground, near the Heath National School and near the GAA pitch.
The drought conditions in 2018 allowed survey of the area by the author of the guide using a drone and several new archaeological features were discovered, including a possible new ring barrow near the golf course.
Together with an early medieval ring fort and the eighteenth century history of the Great Heath Racecourse, these ring barrows make the Heath a site of great heritage importance in County laois and indeed nationally. Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “ We were delighted to partner with the Heritage Council in supporting the publication of this guide which we hope will be a major source of information for local historians of Laois in the coming years, is likely to inspire and assist in much new research on the county”.
Angela McEvoy (Senior Planner, Laois County Council), Michael Parsons (Chair of the Heritage Council) and Roisin Hussey (owner of Heath House) at the launch of the Heritage Guide to the Heath
“Heritage Guide to the Heath” by Dr Eoin Sullivan is published by Wordwell Books and Archaeology Ireland. It is available online from wordwellbooks.com/Laois, priced at €5. Free copies will also be distributed to families with children attending the Heath NS, and copies can be collected from the school during school hours, with thanks to the Principal Mr David O’Brien.
August 6th 2019: Award-winning wildlife authors to visit Laois for Heritage Week
As part of the celebration of Heritage Week in Laois, two award-winning authors will be visiting libraries in Mountmellick and Portlaoise for wildlife art workshops on Friday 23rd August.
Aga Grandowicz is an award-winning wildlife illustrator, co-author of “Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals”, which was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2018 and was the winner of the Children’s Books Ireland Honour Award for Illustration 2019.
As a child, Aga always wanted to be a vet or an ichthyologist (a scientist who studies fish), but she changed her mind before she started college and became an art director and a graphic designer instead. Originally from Gdynia in Poland, she’s been living and working in Dublin since 2006. She is happiest when drawing furry animals and old trees or designing corporate identity.
“The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife” by Juanita Browne
Aga Grandowicz, illustrator of “Dr Hibernica Finch’s Compelling Compendium of Irish Animals”
Juanita Browne has worked on natural history documentaries for television, including the multi-award-winning ‘Secret Life of the Shannon’ and ‘Wild Ireland’. She has also worked on children’s wildlife television shows for RTE, including ‘Shutterbugs’ and ‘Wild Things.’ Juanita’s books include ‘Ireland’s Mammals’ (2005) and ‘My First Book of Irish Animals’ (2014), which was shortlisted for the Literacy Association of Ireland Children’s Book Award 2015. Her most recent publication is and the Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife, a beautifully illustrated book that guides the reader through the seasons in Ireland.
Juanita also edits Biodiversity Ireland, the magazine of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Her latest job involves working with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – conserving bees, bumblebees and the wildflowers, hedgerows they depend on.
The workshops, on at 11am in Portlaoise Library and at 2pm in Mountmellick Library will be a wonderful opportunity for children and budding wildlife artists to help open their eyes to the natural world, from two true wildlife-lovers. Both events are free, but booking is required, contact the libraries at laoislibrary@laoiscoco.ie or https://laois.ie/libraries.
For full details of all Heritage Week events in Laois, download the Laois Event Guide at www.laois.ie/heritage or pick up a printed copy in your local library or Tourist Office. Heritage Week is co-ordinated nationally by the Heritage Council, and details of all events taking place across the country during the week are at www.heritageweek.ie.
