Heritage Week brought sights, sounds and smells of days old and new
Heritage Week 2010 has come and gone but the sights, sounds and sumptuous tastes remain in our memories of what was a wonderful week all around the key heritage sites in South Tipperary.
The South Tipperary Heritage Forum and friends, with the support of the Heritage Council, South Tipperary County Council, Clonmel Borough Council, South Tipperary County Museum and Notice Nature ensured that there was a great buzz in Clonmel this past weekend as Heritage Week culminated in a series of fascinating attractions including a food and farming day, a family fun day and much more, collectively called Festival Cluain Meala.
Last Friday over 100 people attended the launch of the Town Wall Conservation Plan, in the Main Guard with a talk from local architect Margaret Quinlan, where details were revealed of the conservation work that will be carried out in Gordon Street Car Park this year. Funding was secured from the Heritage Council and the Borough Council for work to be undertaken on part of the town wall that can be conserved for tourism potential. And it was for this reason that the celebration of Clonmel Walled Towns Day took place in Gordon Street Car Park last Saturday with a medieval banquet, talks and music – all centred around conservation and with a medieval theme which was evident in the fabulous costumes worn by local dignitaries and event organisers.
South Tipperary Heritage Officer, Labhaoise McKenna, said that this year's Clonmel Walled Town event was a great success.
"This year the Walled Town Day and Heritage Week were brought together, whereas last year there was a gap of one week between the two, but the South Tipperary Heritage Forum and friends, along with Clonmel Borough Council worked together this year to deliver the event on the same weekend, and it really worked."
Clonmel town centre came alive last Sunday with a food and farming day which was facilitated by a number of agencies in the town with tree-lined streets, open-air food stalls, craft stalls, demonstrations, mobile farm and much more. The Office of Public Works (OPW) opened up the Main Guard for the day, allowing people to see the exhibition upstairs curated by museum and archives services in South Tipperary County Council as well as the Workmens Boat Club exhibition. The Friary car park was home to a mobile farm where ducks, hens, goats, ponies and rabbits amazed the little children who hugged and petted them, the Craft Granary were located in the private car park of the Friary. The food street, aka Sarsfield Street, was lined with beautiful trees courtesy of Cahir Trees and organised by organic farmer and member of the Heritage Forum, Richard Auler, who also managed to get some straw bales for extra seating. Aromas of roasting pig, sizzling burgers and other tasty treats wafted through the street with excellent entertainment provided by 'Degs, Mayonnaise and the Salad Creams' who travelled all the way from Bettystown, in Co Meath, at Labhaoise's request! They couldn't refuse their fellow county-woman!
This past weekend's events were combination of old and new, medieval and modern as the agencies in all the South Tipperary towns ensured that they put their stamp on Heritage Week.
“It was a great weekend,” said Labhaoise. “There was something for everyone, it is an educational weekend with hands-on learning.”
Labhaoise thanked every person, club and organisation involved in this year's event, unfortunately too many for South Tipp Today to list this week. But without all of the people who get involved each year, it would be impossible to deliver these important events, she said. Because of the amount of work involved, there is always room for a few more hands so if you would like to get involved you can contact Labhaoise McKenna, Heritage Officer at heritage@southtippcoco.ie or check out www.southtippheritage.ie.
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Weather for Clonmel
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
