7 minute read
History & Heritage
New strategy to protect Wexford's Heritage
In February, the government approved Heritage Ireland 2030, a cross-government Strategic Policy for Heritage that sets out a framework for the protection, conservation, promotion and management of Ireland’s heritage for the next decade and beyond. The Strategy lays out a roadmap for the best possible future for Irish heritage with a joined up approach at government, stakeholder and community levels. A comprehensive implementation plan is now being developed to deliver on its actions.
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Wexford County Council is tasked with the care and management of heritage assets in their ownership such as monuments, protected structures, county archives, museum collections, heritage gardens and parks. Heritage Ireland 2030 will aim to strengthen the role of Wexford County Council in the management, care and promotion of Ireland’s heritage and establish policies to underpin their work as custodians of many heritage resources. The principal themes of the strategy are communities, leadership and partnerships, reflecting the importance of ongoing collaboration between government, communities, stakeholders, citizens and local authorities in delivering upon the objectives of this strategy. The proposed framework sets out structures through which all of these groups can come together to advance the protection of Ireland’s heritage. Recognising that responsibilities for Ireland’s heritage rest right across government, this structured framework will also enable the integration of heritage policy principles into decisionmaking across the whole of government. Heritage Ireland 2030 contains over 150 actions, each of which will be built upon and delivered within working groups. An Implementation Plan assigning actions and timeframes to responsible parties will be developed within six months of the launch of Heritage Ireland 2030, elaborating on the formation of delivery structures and providing a clear roadmap for implementing actions. Launching Heritage Ireland 2030, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D. said: “Government has today approved a plan that represents a major step forward for structured engagement around heritage. The actions in this strategy reflect the huge challenges facing Ireland’s heritage, particularly for nature and biodiversity loss. We have ambitious programmes underway in the area of peatland rehabilitation and nature recovery and the framework set out in this strategy, along with the structured delivery model, will bring cohesion to our efforts, including consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive on areas we might approach on an all-island basis.
“We were heartened over the past two years to see people access our national parks, monuments, nature reserves and historic properties during public health restrictions, and know that this has strengthened people’s appreciation of our heritage. It is more important than ever that our heritage is protected, conserved and restored to ensure that the people of Ireland continue to benefit from the value and well-being that it provides.” n
The Transfer of Power in Co. Wexford in 1922
Wexford County Council Historian-inResidence Barry Lacey discusses County Wexford in the context of the months following the ratification of the Anglo Irish treaty in January 1922, the transfer of power and the lead up to the Irish Civil War.
His online presentation is available on Wexford Library's Facebook and YouTube Channel. n
It’s been a month of flag raising for Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society as invitations flowed in from Kilkenny, Tipperary, and New Ross where ceremonies were taking place to commemorate the handing over of RIC Barracks from the Crown Forces to the National Government in 1922.
First up was James Stephen Barracks at Kilkenny, where on 7th February 1922 at 3pm, Battalions of Volunteers led by St. Patrick’s brass band marched up John’s Street, through the barrack gates and on to the square, where the British flag was lowered, and the Tricolour hoisted as the band played The Soldiers Song.
EHRS were delighted to join re-enactors from Kilkenny, Ashbourne, and Monasterevin, along with members of the Defence Forces on Sunday 6th February to highlight and recreate this significant event, part of the Decade of Commemorations.
On Sunday 13th February, the Enniscorthy group was invited to the old Military Barracks at Summerhill, Nenagh, Tipperary, to participate in Tipperary’s Decade of Revolution, at a flag raising event organised by John Flannery and narrated by Sean Hogan of the Nenagh Commemoration Committee to mark the handing over of the Nenagh Barracks to the National Army in 1922.
The Programme of Events included the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Tricolour along with the Last Post in memory of all the people involved in what were often bloody events that shaped the most critical period of our history, as Ireland struggled to assert her independence from an Empire and lay the foundations of nationhood.
Our final outing for the month of February was a little closer to home at New Ross, where the New Ross Municipal District Council commemorated the handing over of the town’s RIC Barracks on Priory Street on Tuesday 21st February 1922. A unique aspect to the New Ross event was the presence of the actual Tricolour raised that day 100 years ago. The flag has been very kindly donated to the people of New Ross by the Sutton family who have cared for it with love and pride through the years. Watch this space for updates on the Decade of Commemorations Programme going forward. – Words & Pics by Maria Nolan
Above: The actual Tricolour raised in New Ross 100 years ago. Other photos: Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society attending events in Kilkenny, Nenagh, and New Ross.
New Tourism Ambassador training celebrating Ancient Connections
Ancient Connections is an exciting heritage and arts programme that seeks to revive the ancient links between the people of Pembrokeshire in Wales and North County Wexford in Ireland. Having completed the successful History Hunters festival in 2021, Abarta Heritage (on behalf of Ancient Connections) is now hosting a number of free Tourism Ambassador and Welcomer training workshops in Enniscorthy and Ferns in March and April 2022. No experience is required; all are welcome to attend, especially those interested in volunteering in their local area or those working in the local hospitality sector.
WHAT IS THE TRAINING ABOUT?
The Tourism Ambassador Training is a great way to find out more about the fascinating aspects of local history, stories, heritage and culture and will provide you with enhanced skills to welcome visitors to your area. It’s comprehensive and a lot of fun and designed for those up for some volunteering and those in our local tourism and hospitality industry.
For anyone interested in becoming a Tourism Ambassador, there will be three days of training, two in the 'classroom' and one 'out and about day’.
Also on offer is a half-day Welcomer workshop for those that cannot attend the Tourism Ambassador workshops. The Welcomer workshop is designed specifically to boost customer service skills and knowledge about what makes your place special for visitors.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
If you are interested in joining the FREE training sessions, please register at www.ancientconnections.net/ ourevents. The first Tourism Ambassador training will take place in The Courtyard Bar & Restaurant, Ferns, at 10am on Thursday the 24th of March. The Welcomers training is in The Riverside Hotel, Enniscorthy, at 10am on Monday the 28th of March or the 4th of April at 6.30pm. The trainers look forward to seeing you there!
Róisín Burke of Abarta Heritage says: ‘This training offers the opportunity to develop new skills including sharing local stories with visitors to your local area. The training will be relaxed and informal, we want to create a fun environment supporting and connecting like-minded people passionate about their place.
WHO IS RUNNING THIS PROJECT?
Abarta Heritage is managing this project on behalf of the Ancient Connections project which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is supported by Wexford County Council, Visit Wexford, Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. n
Medieval Ferns Experience
Want to try something new and very different? Well, Wexford's newest visitor attraction is now open in Ferns – located at Ferns Community Centre in a specially refurbished area. The Experience tells the fascinating story of Ferns medieval history in an interactive and fun way. Using audio visual, sensory and virtual reality it really gives a great insight into power shifts in the Ancient Capital of Leinster. The Experience is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. For enquiries email: medievalfernsexperience@fernsvillage.ie or phone: 089-4946972. Entry fee is €6. Seniors/Students €5. Children under 12 are free. n
