This year we are delighted to be hosting live, in-person events again for Heritage Week 2022 on the West Cork islands.
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates every aspect of Ireland’s past from its military history to its everyday traditions. The West Cork islands have a unique heritage of island living and a wealth of unspoilt natural heritage to share.
So, why not head to the islands this August, and discover the often-surprising stories of our islands and Ireland’s past with the help of local guides, artists, and expert historians?
Bere Island Projects Group has programmed the following events for Heritage Week Bere Island
Recording Our Bere Island History
18th August – 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Location: Bere Island Heritage Centre
As part of the Burren Beo Trust’s Heritage Keepers programme, Bere Island Projects Group are recording an oral history of Bere Island, preserving the stories and voices of the island’s past for the future.
For National Heritage Week 2022, we are launching Recording Our Bere Island History, making available a number of interviews that have already been recorded, outlining our ongoing plans for the project and members of the project will be on hand to give advice on best practice in recording an oral history interview.
Wild Child Day at Lonehort Battery Bere Island
Saturday 20th August 1pm
Location: Lonehort Battery Main Gate
A guided tour for children (and their parents) of Lonehort Battery, Bere Island, the largest of seven gun batteries on the island.
Surrounded by a deep, dry moat, Lonehort Battery contains two coastal artillery guns, along with a network of underground tunnels.
Led by licensed island guides, the tour will include lots of fun activities and the opportunity to learn about what life was like for those who were stationed at Lonehort during World War One.
The battery is also home to a variety of wildflowers and butterflies and we will aim to see how many we can identify on our tour.
Booking is essential – call +353 (0)27 75099 or email bipginfo@gmail.com
In conjunction with the Ellen Hutchins Festival, the following events will take place on Whiddy Island during Heritage Week to celebrate the island’s natural heritage.
Ellen Hutchins was Ireland’s first celebrated female botanist, and the Ballylickey scientist had a strong connection with Whiddy Island where she spent time identifying and sketching previously uncatalogued plants.
This year’s Heritage Week events on Whiddy Island will give you an opportunity to explore in a natural and artistic setting the seaweeds found on Whiddy’s shores.
She Gathered Seaweeds on the SeaShore [Ellen Hutchins Festival]
13 August, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Event begins on the strand by Whiddy Island’s pier at low tide
Frances will share her knowledge of Bantry Bay’s seaweeds and their uses as food and soil improvers. She will then guide you in gathering small seaweed pieces for specimens.
As the tide comes in, you will move to the marquee by Whiddy’s Bank House for a practical session, where you will spread the seaweed specimens on paper with careful guidance from Frances.
Carrie will show the equipment that Ellen would have used over 200 years ago, and there will be images of Ellen’s seaweed specimens and drawings to examine.
Letters from the Sea: Seaweed and cyanotype workshop [Ellen Hutchins Festival]
13 August, 3pm – 5pm
Location: Community Hall, Whiddy Island, Bantry
Inspired by the work of Anna Atkins (1799-1871), artist Sybille Neumeyer is inviting you to explore the poetic encounter of seaweed, water and light through cyanotypes (an early photogram technique using sunlight-sensitive paper).
The Ellen Hutchins Festival is delighted that she has offered to run this very special workshop for them. Carrie O’Flynn, historical re-enactor, and Madeline Hutchins, researcher on Ellen, will also contribute to the session.
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