Heritage News

News: Westmeath County Council  is one of 10 Local Authorities who have been allocated funding for a Biodiversity Officer. For details of this announcement from the Minister for Heritage see: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/79a0a-approval-for-ten-new-biodiversity-officers-to-bolster-local-action-for-nature/ Connecting Communities with Peatlands  - Upcoming opportunities: Interpretation & Conservation Planning; Relationship & Conflict Management for community groups; Facebook & Instagram for Beginners. Course […]

If you’d like to learn how to garden more sustainably a one-day course is being offered that will cover everything from gardening without chemicals, to pollinator planting, vegetable growing, mini-pond building, pruning, cuttings and much more. The course is run by horticulturist and environmentalist Aoife Munn and will take place on Sunday October 16 from […]

‘The Big Dig’ offers hands-on learning for curious children to budding archaeologists. Children are invited to explore the Viking world through a simulated archaeology dig. They are given the chance to experience what it is like to be an archaeologist by learning how to excavate the remains of a Viking house. As they dig through […]

It is amazing what you can discover about your local area from the snug safety of your home! Wstmeath Heritage is delighted to offer a FREE* course (mostly online) that will take you step-by-step through the available online sources that will allow you to paint a picture of the geological, archaeological, and historical events that […]

Over many decades in Westmeath, precious memories of times gone by have been recorded by groups and individuals in an effort to document what are often fading memories of our past.  Now, Westmeath County Council, with funding from Creative Ireland, are undertaking a major audit of these collections, to compile a list for the first […]

The latest Heritage and News from Westmeath Heritage Heritage Week runs from 13th – 21st August 2022. There’s lots planned and most events are Free! Copies of the Printed Guide to Heritage Week Events in Westmeath are now available from your local Library. Pick up a copy and start planning your week If you prefer […]

The ancient Royal Sites of Ireland were one of three successful bids to be included on Ireland’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Status, which was announced last week:https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/72ef0-ministers-announce-new-world-heritage-tentative-list-for-ireland/. The Royal Sites are: Emain Macha/Navan Fort (Co. Armagh) site of the Kings of Ulster, Dun Ailline (Co. Kildare) site of the King of Leinster, Rathcroghan […]

One of the great tales in Irish mythology, the Táin Bó Cúailnge - or the Cattle Raid of Cooley has been recreated on a giant tapestry. The famous myth tells the tale of Queen Méabh of Connacht and her husband Ailill, who plot to steal the sacred stud bull Donn Cuailnge from Ulster. The tale […]

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? Do you have older relatives that always tell stories about the past? WE WANT TO HEAR THEM! Contact me, Oliver Fallen, Creator in Residence 2022, as I run a new, free, Oral history project in conjunction with Westmeath Heritage office. We want to preserve your family memories of […]

The latest Heritage and News from Westmeath Heritage Decade of Centenaries Blog Posts the latest blogs by Historian in Residence Dr Paul Hughes are about the First Week of the Civil War in Westmeath: click here to read Extended deadline!- Pre-draft Consultation on a new Heritage and Biodiversity Plan for Westmeath is open until Fri […]