Inishbofin Archaeological Walk

Guided tour led by by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland

Walk/Tour

Date: Wednesday September 25th, 2024 

Time: 11am, for 11.30am ferry / Return 5pm ferry.

Location: Cleggan Pier, Co Galway

Archaeological Field Trip to Inishbofin Island, exploring Bronze Age landscapes emerging from beneath the cutaway bogs and the 17th century fort that controls the natural harbour.

Inishbofin’s early settlement history is evident from the dozens of Bronze Age monuments, which we will see during our Field Trip.  The island was first mentioned by the Venerable Bede in the Early 8th Century and used as a refuge for Northumbrian Monks.  It was raided by the Vikings in 795AD and long retained strong associations with Anglo-Saxon England.  

Located on the border between the two powerful Gaelic maritime lordships of the O’Malley’s and the O’Flaherty’s, Inishbofin has a turbulent history.  It was the last Gaelic stronghold to fall to Cromwell and subsequently had strong links with 17th Century France and 18th Century America.  Its fragmented coastline boasts dramatic sea cliffs and sea caves and is home to a rich variety of marine life.

Tickets cost €30, Includes Ferry to the Island. Book here via Eventbrite

Photo courtesy www.walkingireland.com

Inisturk Walking Tour Island

Guided tour led by Islander Jack Heane

Walk/Tour

 Date: Thursday September 26th, 2024  

Time: 10am for 10.30am ferry / Return 5:15pm

Ferry Departs from: Roonagh Point, Louisburg, Co.Mayo F28W8P3

Tranquil, isolated and stunningly beautiful, Inishturk lies around 15km (9 miles) off the coast of County Mayo, nestled between the islands of Inishbofin and Clare. Inishturk Island juts out of the wild North Atlantic Ocean, reaching 189m (621ft) at its highest point stands the ruins of a Napoleonic era watchtower that was part of a network of towers from Mayo to Waterford.

Inishturk has been inhabited on and off since 4,000 BCE and has been inhabited permanently since at least 1700. Some of the more recent inhabitants are descended from evacuees from Inishark to the southwest.

On our walk we will talk about the islands bronze age past, its pirate coves and view the stunning cliffs. Our host, and Island native Jack Heane will be more than happy to talk about life on the island with a small community and the plans for helping it to survive in the future.

In 1993 Inishturk Community centre was opened, this community centre doubles as a library and a pub. The island is home to a primary school on the island which in 2011 had only 3 pupils, this believed to be the smallest primary school in Ireland.

Inisturk is one of the true gems sitting offshore our Island waiting for you to visit.

Cost including Ferry is €30

Ferry timetable available at https://inishturkpassengerferry.ie

Bring your walking boots and remember to wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!

Soup and sandwiches will be made available on the island at the InisTurk Community Club, but would be advised to bring own additional drinks or snacks.

Guided tour of the Inishkea Islands

Guided tour led by Bill Duffy, Really Great Tours

Date: Friday 20th September 2024

Time: 09:30am start / Return 3:30pm

Meet up Blacksod Lighthouse, Fallmore, Co. Mayo, F26 KC7V

Local company really great tours was borne from a desire to tell the stories of Blacksod, Inishkea, The Mullet Peninsula and North County Mayo in an accessible, interesting way. Eco tourism professional Bill Duffy leads groups and individuals on fascinating, eco-friendly walking tours as well as low impact bus tours, taking the time to tell the stories which would otherwise be lost in time.

A guided tour of the historic Blacksod Village and boat trip to the remote Inishkea Islands. Visitors will be guided through the unique history, architecture and stories of Blacksod Village before boarding the boat for a 40 minute sail to the Inishkea Islands, where the guided tour will continue. Inishkea Islands are a unique and interesting place, with a strong cultural significance in relation to the West of Ireland. Guests will be blown away by the regional, national and international tales associated with the islands, which are often painted as bleak and barren places. In fact, tight-knit communities on the islands flourished during times of national hardship! 

Cost including Ferry to the Island is €50

Bring your walking boots and remember to wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!  Be advised to bring own packed lunch or snacks.

Tour Enniscoe House

Date: 28th September 2024

Time: 1 pm

Location: Enniscoe House, Castlehill, Ballina. Co Mayo F26 EA34

FREE tour led by DJ Kellett, will show how the late 18th century “new” house was built onto the “old” house, and the care taken to marry the exterior of both.

www.enniscoe.com

Tour Ballyglass Lighthouse

Date: Saturday 28th September
Time: 3pm
Location: Ballyglass Lighthouse, Ballyglass, Co. Mayo

Mark Stephens Architects - talk on the historic maritime structures at Ballyglass Lighthouse, with a tour of the conservation and restoration works to the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage, adjacent to Ballyglass Lighthouse at Gubbacashel Point, Co. Mayo.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Mayo County Council’s Architectural Conservation Office supports works to promote the repair and re-use of historic structures and provided funding for the conservation works at Ballyglass Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.

Mark Stpehens, MRIAI Architect, Accredited in Conservation at Grade 3 will present the history of the lighthouse and associated structures and discuss his approach to the conservation, repair and restoration of the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage. The tour will also include access to the film-set designed for the forthcoming feature film ‘Cry from the Sea’.

Inis Mór Archaeological Walk

Guided tour led by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland

Walk/Tour

Date: Monday September 30th, 2024  
Time: 10am for 10.30am ferry / Return 5pm
Location: Rossaveal Pier, Co Galway  
Link to Ferry Departure location HERE

Archaeological Field Trip to Inis Mór, exploring the karst limestone and the rich Celtic Forts which dominate the western fringes of Europe.

Inis Mór has been settled for at least the last 6,000 years and is ribbed by a filigree network of stone walls, some dating back to these Prehistoric times. The skyline is crowned by spectacular Forts and an array of very beautifully sited Early Monastic Sites. We will explore the most famous site on the island, which is undoubtedly Dún Aengus, a 3,000-year-old: 14-acre cliff-edge fortress: surrounded by the best-preserved example of Chevaux-de-Frise in European archaeology and is the site of the discovery of a Palaeolithic hand axe (c.300,000 years old).

We will also explore the rich monastic sites as the island is famously associated with St Enda, one of the giants of Early Irish Monasticism, although his main monastery was demolished during the Elizabethan and later Cromwellian conquest of the island.

Tickets cost €30, Includes Ferry to the Island.

Bring your walking boots and wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!  

Event Image* General View with Dún Aengus on the cliff edge.

Photo courtesy Walking Ireland.

Clare Island Archaeological Walk

Guided tour led by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland

Walk/Tour

Date: Wednesday October 2nd, 2024 

Time: 10am, for 10.35am ferry / Return 4.30pm ferry.

Ferry departs from Roonagh Pier

Archaeological Field Trip to Clare Island led by Michael Gibbons, exploring the hidden ancient landscapes and vibrant seascapes of Grace O’Malley home, where she traded and raided in Medieval Ireland. 

The Clare Island Surveys Old (Praeger 1909-11) and New (Meyers 2002/7) trace the history of human occupation and its impact on the landscape of this small remote western island.  Clare Island’s history is complex and dates from pre-historic times, it’s two peaks (Knockmore 462 and Knockneveen 233) provide the mountainous background to an archaeological landscape where megalithic tombs lie within a Bronze Age landscape compete with dozens of Fulacht Fia (ancient cooking sties) and a very important Early Monastic site and Medieval castle overlooking the harbour complete the archaeological pictures.  Grace O’Malley (Granuaile) was born here, she was part of the maritime world where trading with Europe was common place and raiding with neighbours and passing ships was also common place.

Cost including Ferry is €30

Bring your walking boots and to wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!

Ballina HeritACT Co-Envisioning Day

Talk, Discussion, Walk/Tour, Workshop, Exhibition

Date: Saturday 05th October
Time: 10:00-17:00
Location: HeritHUB, Ballina Library, Pearse Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Join the Ballina Co-Envisioning Day at the HeritHUB in Ballina Library. Connecting communities through an integrated and participatory approach to the cultural heritage and future of Ballina this HeritACT event aims to engage the local community in collaborative design processes to facilitate sustainable urban development.

Focusing on sustainable approaches participants will explore potential solutions for sites in Ballina through a series of interactive activities. These include a guided walk, and digital engagement exercises designed to assess, and negotiate site-specific interventions for selected historic sites in Ballina. The day will conclude with feedback and discussions on the outcomes, guiding the design and location of six potential solutions. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

‘Introduction to the HeritACT project and the 3-step project process (Co-Recognition, Co-Envisioning, Co-Implementation).

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Sense-Making Activity Using SustainACT

Identify impacts of the proposed HeritACT solutions.

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Story Map of Ballina Presentation

Presentation on the research activities and the proposed HeritACT activation sites.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Walk, Talk, and Lunch Activity 

Guided walk around Ballina, visiting the proposed sites exploring the historical context and potential solutions. Packed lunch provided.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: World Café & Empathy Mapping Activity using NegoDesign. 

Evaluate and vote on the suitability of sites for the HeritACT activation solutions.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Community Mapping Activity Using Design Your Heritage

Design optimal solutions for one of the historic sites, with a focus on critiquing and improving proposed HeritACT activation solutions.

4:30 PM: Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Recap of the day, completion of feedback forms, and information on upcoming HeritACT events.’

Summerage The Burren

Haslam & Co

Tour

Date: Sunday 06 Oct
Time: 3pm (1 hour and 30 minutes approx)
FREE
Location: Summerage is a 3km drive from the Poulnabrone Dolmen and five kilometres from the coastal village of Ballyvaughan. Eircode to be shared upon event registration.

Architect led tour with Mike Haslam, Haslam & Co.

Summerage channels the spirit of The Burren for a new rural retreat in one of Europe’s most unique landscapes.

 Revived 32 acre farmstead in the west coast of Ireland becomes a dedicated ‘slow living’ escape in the heart of a glacio karst landscape gifting space, time and a deeper connection with nature

Founded by slow food restaurateur and slow fashion entrepreneur Aoibheann MacNamara, Summerage is sited in a area of special area of conservation with 360 degree views of Ireland’s most biodiverse region

Described as ‘a place apart’, the renovated farm cottage with extension by ecological architects Haslam & Co , this sustainable and ecologically conscious restoration of a traditional Irish farmhouse has created an escape to appreciate the space and stillness of 360 degree views across its 32 acres.