Special seminar on Westmeath Heritage later this month
An update on heritage projects underway in Westmeath will be given at a special seminar later this month.
The event, organised by Westmeath Heritage, will take place in the Annebrook Hotel in Mullingar, on Saturday, November 29.
“This will be an opportunity for all those interested in heritage to come along and hear about some of the projects underway in the county,” said Heritage Officer Melanie McQuade.
The morning session will include presentations on recent conservation work on the medieval churches of Templecross in Tristernagh and Castlelost near Rochfortbridge. Áine Doyle and Deirdre McDermott will outline their recent survey work on traditional farm buildings in Westmeath.
Oral Historian Adrian Roche will talk about his work on ‘the Voices of Resettlement’, capturing memories of the 1950s land commission assisted resettlements from Mayo to Westmeath and The Argentine Emigration Oral History Project.
Martin Fagan, former Archivist at Strokestown House, will guide those in attendance through the recently digitised late18th and early 19th century maps of Thomas Nugent’s Estate at Donore.
In the afternoon there will be a series of shorter talks by local heritage groups on their experience of organising and delivering projects and events.
Runners up in this year’s National Heritage Week Awards Connaught Street Traders and Environs in Athlone present on their programme of Heritage Week events while Tubberclaire Local Action Group, also a runner up in the national finals, will outline details of their project ‘Commemorating 200 years of the Low Road in Glasson’.
The event will also feature Eugene Dunbar from ETHOS (Everything Tyrrellspass has on Show) talking about developing the Tyrrellspass Heritage Trail.
Mary Fallon from the Rahinane Trail Blazers will discuss this year’s Mary Molesworth Festival in Rochfortbridge and Carmel Lynam from Castletown Geoghegan Development Association will outline their project exploring the Warrior’s Grave.
Melanie said: “We have a great line up of speakers for the day. I hope the Heritage Seminar will become an annual information and networking event that may be held in different venues around the county in coming years.”
The schedule runs from 10am – 3pm. Tea/coffee and lunch will be provided and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
The full programme for the day is available on Eventbrite or by contacting Westmeath Heritage Office. The Westmeath Heritage Seminar is an action of the Westmeath Heritage Plan and is supported by The Heritage Council and Westmeath County Council. Admission is FREE but places are limited so booking is required. Book your space here or by contacting heritage@westmeathcoco.ie or 044 9332098/ 087 6074496.