NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK 2017
(Aug 19th – Aug 27th)
Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage Events

Event: Children's Historical Treasure Hunt of Clonakilty.
Date and Time: All week
Venue: Collect forms at Michael Collins House and other local venues.
Details: Google-free, outdoor fun learning experience for 5-12 year old children (and their parents) exploring and discovering the history of Clonakilty. Lots of prizes.

Event: Guided Historical Walk of Clonakilty Town
Date and Time: Wed Aug 23 and Sun Aug 27th 7pm
Venue: Michael Collins Statue, Emmet Square, Clonakilty
Details: The town as we know it today was founded by Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, who received a charter from James I in 1613. This walk will introduce stories of wars, battles, rebellions, famine, smuggling and shipwrecks as well as the commercial life of the town's Linen Hall and Deasy's Brewery, and will trace the footsteps of its famous characters – Mary Jane Irwin (wife of Fenian Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa), Michael Collins and Tadhg an Asna (1798 Leader).

Event: Historical Tour of Seven Heads
Date and Time: Sat Aug 19th 2.30pm
Venue: Meet at Barryroe Church
Details: Local historian, Sean de Barra continues his tour of Seven Heads, visiting Lislee Church and Graveyard, Coolum Cliffs, Broad Strand (site of memorial to Antartic explorer Patrick Keohane) & much more.

Event: Battle of the Big Cross – Shannonvale 1798
Date and Time: Thurs Aug 24th 7pm
Venue: Phairs Pub, Shannonvale
Details: The Battle of the Big Cross took place on 19 June,1798 on the old road between Clonakilty and Balllinascarthy near the picturesque village of Shannonvale. This battle has gone down in history as the only recorded engagement to take place in all of Munster during the Rising between the United Irishmen and government forces. Diarmuid Kingston and Michael O'Mahony will speak on events and circumstances surrounding the Battle of the Big Cross and its aftermath.

Clonakilty Historical Walks

Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage, is once again providing guided historical walks of Clonakilty town for visitors, (and locals!), each Wednesday evening for July and August.
This is the third summer the group has organised the popular free walks, which attracted between 30 - 40 people each evening over the last two years.
Local historians who are members of Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage group lead the tours concentrating on the town centre area.
Interested people should meet at 7pm at the Michael Collins statue which is the starting point. No pre-booking required, and the guided walks are completely free of charge, and suitable for most people as all the route is on the flat. The walks last approx. an hour and a quarter.

Clonakilty 1798 battle remembered

PHOTO: Among the organisers and participants who attended the annual Battle of the Big Cross commemoration on Monday evening were front from left: Cionnaith Ó Súílleabháin, (flag-bearer); Ger O’ Driscoll, (trumpet player); Tim Feen, (Cathaoirleach Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage who organised the event); Mayor of Clonakilty, John Loughnan, (who laid the wreath); Mary and Neil O’ Loughlin, (relatives of Tadhg an Asna); Diarmuid Kingston, (who gave an account of the battle and it's context); Rachael Cronin and Traolach Ó Donnabháin, (flag-bearer).

Back: Dúchas members Cllr. Paul Hayes, MCC; Jerry O’ Leary; Noreen Minihan; Phil O’ Regan; Michael O’ Mahony; Marian O’ Leary; Clíodhna O’ Leary; Fachtna McCarthy; Eileen O’ Regan and Conor O’ Leary. (Photo: Anthony Brennan, Dúchas).

Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage remembered the 219^th anniversary of the 1798 Battle of the Big Cross at Asna Square on Monday evening last (19^th June). The non-political historical event commemorates the only rising in the whole of Munster during the historic year of 1798. The tricolour and Clonakilty 1798 bicentenary flags were held at each side of the monument as Cathaoirleach Tim Feen welcomed all and Mayor John Loughnan laid the wreath and addressed the gathering.

Diarmuid Kingston gave a detailed account of the years leading up to 1798 in West Cork, the battle itself and the aftermath for the people of the area. Included at the gathering were Niall and Mary McLoughlin who attend annually from England. Mary is a descendant of the O’ Donovan Asna’s of whom Tadhg of course was leader of the United Irishmen on the day of the battle on 19^th June 1798.

The ceremony concluded with Ger O’ Driscoll playing "Amhrán na bhFiann" on trumpet. As well as locals there were also visitors from Scotland in attendance, and Jerry O’ Leary brought along his 110 years old “All for Ireland League” Darrara branch banner.

1798 "Battle of the Big Cross" to be remembered in Clonakilty

Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage, a local, non-political historical organisation in Clonakilty will remember "The Battle of the Big Cross" next Monday evening, 19th June at 8pm at Asna Square.