Latest news with #DéiseMedieval
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Heritage Week: 5 fun things to do for all the family
Get ready to celebrate all the best things about our heritage with 5,000 events taking place during National Heritage Week. We can't list them all, but here are 5 fun things to do this weekend to get you going. Our friends from the Heritage Council have thousands of fun activities and days out taking from 16 to 24 August. They will bring together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. Come along to Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny for a celebration of Ireland's traditional craft and building skills. This an entertaining day for all the family. It's free and no booking is required - just drop in! See master craftspeople in action, including lime plastering, stone cutting, blacksmithing, thatching, and glassmaking. Explore the history of the Heritage Council's headquarters, the former Bishop's Palace, a remarkable building that has stood witness to centuries of change in Kilkenny. There's engaging activities for children will be all day - come along and join in the fun! Athlone Castle Free Open Day - 16 August 10:30am to 5:30pm Storm the Castle! The Athlone Castle open day will feature lots of guest demonstrations, tours of the castle and more. Athlone Castle's flagship Heritage Week event returns once more, with free admission for all! The castle courtyard will be transported through the centuries to the heart of medieval life, with a spectacular array of traditional craftspeople, hands-on demonstrations, and engaging activities for all ages. The Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills returns to Ennistymon on Saturday, 16 August, celebrating heritage, community, and craft through a full day of activities. This free event brings together local makers, musicians, and storytellers to share traditional skills and cultural heritage in a welcoming, hands-on setting. Please note that all workshops have limited capacity, so early booking is strongly recommended. Woodstown Viking Festival - 17th August 12pm to 5pm Celebrate the heritage of Vikings in Ireland with a gathering on the edge of Waterford that was once home to the Vikings. Usually, the Waterford Greenway is very peaceful but for one day only, there will be war! The Woodstown Viking Site will see battle re-enactments, Viking games, a craft village and archaeology activities for children. The immersive event is brought to you by Déise Medieval in collaboration with Waterford City and County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and supported by National Museum of Ireland, TVAS Archaeology, the Discovery Programme and SETU. Athenry Walled Town Day - 17th August 1pm to 5pm A big celebration of the Norman heritage of Athenry. Set in the shadow of the castle, this celebration will feature craft demonstrations, a chance to see medieval arms and much more. Join us at Athenry Community Park and Athenry Heritage Centre for a free family fun day celebrating the rich heritage of Athenry. This year's theme, Exploring Our Foundations, invites visitors of all ages to enjoy a vibrant mix of arts, crafts, music, song and dance, medieval reenactments, puppet shows, children's activities, food stalls, historical presentations, and a walking tour of the historic town. Step back in time and experience the magic of medieval Athenry!
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tralee ready to bloom this June thanks to 20th Féile na mBláth Park Festival
This year's event will be from Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 15 and organisers have promised that this year's outing will be even bigger and better than before. With thanks to Kerry County Council & Tralee Municipal District, organisers have said that entry to this year's festival and its events will once again be free. "Féile na mBláth is one of the real highlights of the year here in Tralee. It's a brilliant celebration of who we are – full of music, craic, colour, and community spirit. The festival is 20 years young and still going strong! I'd encourage everyone to come along, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all that's on offer in the heart of Tralee town centre,' said Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Mikey Sheehy. The launch of the festival will take place on Friday, June 13 at 1pm followed by the 20th Anniversary Concert. There will be an afternoon of music and food with a 'Moonlight Movie' Outdoor Cinema Night in the town park to celebrate the start of the school holidays. Some of the highlights to look out for at this year's festival include the return of Déise Medieval with over thirty warriors and reenactors with their tented village which will be manned by experienced reenactors from around Ireland. All participants will dress, live, and work in an authentic recreation of Viking life. Authentic cooking is done over the open fire and all the re-enactors are friendly (for the most part!) and very experienced in demonstrations and will present a number of Battles for Tralee during their stay in the Park. Saturday's schedule is jam-packed with a host of activities planned for all the family to get involved with including flower demonstrations by Tralee Flower & Garden Club, and workshops in the Community Gardens. Families will be able to enjoy shows from the Fanzini Brothers, drum circles, and much more. The evening with finish with set and céilí dancing until late in the sponsored Kerry Group Marquee. Sunday morning will kick off with the traditional morning Mass followed by an emergency services display in the afternoon with Kerry Fire and Rescue, Kerry Civil Defence and The Irish Coast Guard set to appear. As if all this wasn't enough, the traditional dog show will take place later on the Sunday afternoon while the centrepiece of Féile na mBláth, the Flower & Garden Club competitions will take place in the flower marquee with the prize giving for this set to take place later on Sunday evening. To check out the full eProgramme, go to or the festival's Facebook or Instagram pages.
