As has been done since 2022, free events have been organised by Kilfenora Development Community Group for National Heritage Week, for the benefit of the local community and any passing visitors. All will be held at the Burren Visitor Centre. Capacity is limited, so do arrive promptly to get a seat.
This year’s theme for National Heritage Week is “Heritage At Risk”, which is reflected in all 3 events in Kilfenora in various ways.
“Keeping the art of storytelling alive in Clare” – Sunday 16 August (2-3pm). Balor O’Brien – a Clare storyteller, historian, and the creator of “Balor Otherworld” – will provide an overview of the oral tradition and how it has survived into the digital age. He will describe the varied landscape of storytelling – yarns about people, events and places; humorous tales; legends and myths; children’s stories; the traveller tradition, and more besides. The remarkable Paddy Hynes will also reflect on his hugely long experience of being a North Clare seannachie (local storyteller). Expect yarns!
“The concertina in Ireland and Clare” – Sunday 23 August (2-3pm). Dr. Tim Collins is a renowned concertina player, teacher, recording artist, composer and core member of the Kilfenora Céilí Band. He will cover the history of the concertina, ranging through its golden era in the late 1800s through the lean years of the 20th century, to the more recent revival of its popularity. He will explain how Co Clare has been the heartland of the concertina in Irish traditional music, highlighting the great players of the past and present. He will also describe the various newer initiatives that are taking the instrument into an exciting future, and he will illuminate his talk with some lively concertina playing.
“Evolution of Archaeology in Ireland – successes and challenges” – Sunday 23 August (3-4pm). Leading Clare archaeologist Elaine Lynch will give an overview of the remarkable advances made in in Ireland since the 1970s, when relatively few sites had been identified and described. Now, thanks to huge amounts of research and fieldwork, you can find online many thousands of recorded monuments – churches, castles, iron-age forts, tombs, stone circles, fulacht fia and much more besides. And yet there is much still to be discovered – only a small minority of sites have been excavated, and the application of rapidly advancing technology also offers a continuous stream of new insights. Elaine Lynch will explain the efforts behind all this, with academics working with volunteers and farmers to record, understand and preserve the fascinating history of our island.
All these events are listed on the National Heritage website under its ‘Event Listings’.
