Something for everyone with this years National Heritage Week

National Heritage Week (Aug 17-25) is offering 1,700 events, most of which are free. Some 50,000 free copies of National Heritage Week Event Guides are available in Fáilte Ireland tourist offices, libraries, OPW sites, Bus Éireann stations and county council offices.

Highlights include: ‘Dancing at the Crossroads’ in Cork on Aug 18 and Aug 25. The location is Laharn Cross, Lombardstown, in North Cork, where people gather on Sunday nights throughout the summer to enjoy open air crossroads dancing. On a raised timber platform, you can dance to your heart’s delight, with live music accompanying everything from waltzes to foxtrots.

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In County Clare, there’s an opportunity to explore the Burren’s unique landscape on Aug 22. The meeting place is the Burren Outdoor Education Centre, Ballyvaughan.

Also in Clare, ‘A Walk with a Difference’ takes place along the Flaggy Shore finishing at Cafe Linalla on Aug 21. This event is for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.

www.burrenbeo.com.

In Dublin, ‘A Look at the Tenement City’ takes place on Aug 24. The tour starts at Collins’ Barracks and ends in O’Connell Street.

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A tour of Marsh’s Library takes place in Dublin on Aug 19, 21 and 23. This tour will include access to rooms not normally open to the public. Only 15 places are available on each tour.

www.marshlibrary.ie.

Children’s day at Aras an Uachtarain takes place on Aug 24 from 11.30am-1pm. This free tour will be followed by a visit to the Garda horses and working dogs. Booking is essential.

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At the Hunt Museum in Limerick, ‘800 Years of Fashion’ is on show. Learn about clothes from the past and the societies that wore them, from the Elizabethan nobility to medieval serfs.

www.huntmuseum.com.

Also in Limerick, an Uilleann piping recital will take place on Aug 24. Renowned Irish piper, Mikie Smyth of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, will perform. This event takes place in Desmond Hall, a restored medieval banqueting hall built by the Earls of Desmond in the 15th century.

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In Waterford, an event called ‘Monk-y Business’ takes place on Aug 17-18. Children are invited to discover the daily business of being a monk in times past. Crafty young novices can try their hand at making ink, decorating manuscripts and trying out the art of calligraphy.

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In Galway, an introduction to Irish crochet and lace making takes place on Aug 20. Anne Quinn from Galway Crochet Craft will be giving demonstrations at the Fisheries Watchtower.

www.athenryheritagecentre.com.

In Kilkenny, there will be an introduction to genealogy and starting a family tree on Aug 22. At Ferrybank Library, there will be information on sources and methodologies for exploring one’s ancestry.

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In Wexford, there will be a Vinegar Hill workshop on Aug 20. The workshop “will inform and entertain” children about the Battle of Vinegar Hill by providing information using costumes and artefacts. The venue is Enniscorthy Public Library.

www.wexford.ie/library.

In Wicklow, the story of Wicklow gold will be related on Aug 23. Peadar McArdle, former director of the Geological Society of Ireland, will base his talk about the Wicklow gold rush of 1795 on his book, ‘Gold Frenzy’. The venue is Newcastle Community Centre, Greystones, Co Wicklow.

www.newcastlewicklow.ie.

— For the full programme of events, go to www.heritageweek.ie.