This weekend, Ballintubber will be hosting a series of cultural and historical events as part of the village’s Heritage Weekend. With two days of exciting activities in store for Saturday, July 27th, and Sunday, July 28th, this weekend promises to be a memorable celebration of the village’s rich heritage.
Saturday will kick things off at 11 am with a talk by archaeologist Mary Timoney, taking place in the Old Graveyard. Then, at 12.30 pm, the official opening of the heritage festivities will be held at the Old Schoolhouse, complete with street stalls, crafts, entertainment, traditional bread-making, and a car boot sale! This will be followed by a visit to the Old Village Forge.
After getting an insight into the methods of past blacksmiths, it will be time to get an insight into the methods of past farmers, with a demonstration of old hay-cutting with scythes taking place at 1.30 pm.
This will be followed at 2 pm by what is sure to be a highlight of the jam-packed weekend; a guided tour of the castle and the opportunity to take part in an archaeological dig!
And younger attendees need not fear as there is lots in store for them too. From 1 pm to 4 pm, there will be a wide range of children’s activities on offer, such as a mini-dig, a treasure hunt and games, an ice cream van, face-painting, etc!
Another highlight on the Saturday will be the historical village walk, which will travel through the village, visiting places of local historical significance such as St Brigid’s Well, the Old Schoolhouse, Kenny’s Old Bar, and Colm Daly’s vintage shop.
Please note there will also be refreshments in the Old Schoolhouse and an opportunity to view the display of findings from the dig.
Sunday’s line-up kicks off at 11.30 am with the annual cemetery Mass, which will be followed by a St Brigid’s Cross demonstration at the nearby well.
At 1.30 pm, attendees are invited to visit Willsgrove Hall for the chance to enjoy some storytelling, music, and dance!
And the excitement will continue at 5 pm, with the last event of Ballintubber Heritage Weekend, ‘Dancing at the Crossroads’ – which promises to close out the busy two days on a real high note.
‘Dancing at the Crossroads’, a Tidy Towns Appreciation event, will take place in Kenny’s Bar, and will feature a free BBQ, entertainment, and presentations. This event is being held as a token of the Tidy Towns group’s appreciation for all the support they have received throughout the year.
All are welcome to attend, so don’t miss out on the chance to learn a bit more about your local heritage, while also enjoying a fun-filled weekend! Fáilte roimh chách!
For further information on any of the events, contact Ballintubber Tidy Towns on 087 0929930 or 087 2308895. You can also keep up to date via the Ballintubber Tidy Towns Facebook page.
If you’re interested in learning more about Ballintubber Heritage Weekend, etc, please visit ballintubbervillage.com/heritage.
