21.08.2014
Heritage Week Events in Dublin and Glendalough Churches
National Heritage Week Heritage Week 2014 runs from August 23 to 31 and offers the opportunity for people to get involved with the heritage of Ireland. Coordinated by the Heritage Council, this year’s theme is ‘Family … Generations Exploring Heritage Together’. Throughout Dublin and Glendalough, churches will be opening their doors to enable people to explore their build history.
In Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, activities get underway on Monday next, August 25. There will be guided tours, music, art and children’s activities. There will be daily tours of the cathedral and belfry and an exploration of Ireland’s medicinal flora and fauna by horticultural expert, author and broadcaster, Fiann O Nuallain. Full details of the cathedral’s programme can be found on their website at: http://www.christchurchdublin.ie/NewsDetails/266 .
The programme for St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, gets underway on Saturday August 23. There will be daily lunchtime recitals in the Lady Chapel, cathedral tours and talks on aspects of the cathedral’s history as well as activities for children. All their events over coming week can be found at http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/Heritage-Week.aspx.
At St Audoen’s Church Visitor Centre in Cornmarket, Dublin 8, there are a wide array of events to choose from. Their programme runs from Saturday August 23 to Sunday August 31 with drop in activities from Monday to Friday from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. Throughout the week there will be quizes, a nature explorer sheet and drop in activities for younger visitors including designing a medieval tile, a coat of arms or stained glass. There will be lunchtime tours, medieval story time, poetry and concerts. Full details can be found at http://dublin.anglican.org/news/events/2014/08/Heritage-Week-at-St-Audoens-Church-Visitor-Centre.php or https://www.facebook.com/saintaudoenschurchandvisitorcentre
The Church of St John the Evangelist, will be open to visitors from Thursday August 28 until Sunday August 31 from noon each day. There will be an exhibition detailing the lives of the eleven men who are commemorated on the church’s war memorial including Lt Charles de Burg Daly, a nephew of Percy French, Cpl RSB Dunne who was ‘the first driver to enter Baghdad’ in 1917, and Lt Eric Greaves who was awarded the MC posthumously on the eve of the armistice in 1918.
St Doulagh’s Church, Malahide Road, Balgriffin, will mark Heritage week with a programme starting on Saturday August 23 when there will be guided tours and stories about Ireland’s oldest stone roofed church which is still in continuous use as a centre of Christian worship from 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm.
At 4.00 pm on Saturday a talk entitled ‘Our National Poet W.B.Yeats’ will be given by Ms Stella Mew (former CEO of the Sligo Yeats Society), who will speak about the poet and his poems. This will be followed by a time for questions and answers. Guided Tours will follow up to 6.00 pm. On Sunday August 24 from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm there will be guided tours and stories.
On Wednesday August 27 from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm there will be guided tours and stories followed at 8.00pm by a talk by Dr Rachel Moss, author and historian who will speak on the subject of ‘Medieval Churches and Chapels within the Pale – St Doulagh’s in context’. She will take questions afterwards.
On Saturday August 30 and Sunday August 31 there will be guided tours and stories. Admission is free, however, donations towards the upkeep and repair of the church and site (circa 6th century) will be welcome. Parking will be available within the grounds of St Doolagh’s Park opposite the church. Bus no’s 42 & 43 stop outside. Further information available from 087–6711547 if required.
Calary Church, located between Kilmacanogue and Roundwood, celebrates the 180th anniversary of its consecration this year will be open between 2.00 pm and 6.00 pm on Saturday August 23, Sunday 24, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31. There will be free guided tours of the church, which includes the pulpit used by the Revd John Nelson Darby, one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren. There will also be an exhibition of local photographs, some taken with pinhole cameras and country produce will also be on sale. At 7.00 pm on Sunday August 24, there will be a Songs of Praise, to which everyone is invited.
Photo: Traditional music in St Audoen’s.