Kilcormac Heritage Trail Audio Guide

Discover 9,000 years of stories along the Kilcormac Heritage Trail!

Kilcormac Heritage Trail Audio Guide

Discover 9,000 years of stories along the Kilcormac Heritage Trail!

Nestled between the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the waters of the Silver River in County Offaly, you’ll find a town full of stories. Take the Kilcormac Heritage Trail Audio Guide to discover the tales of a community

This audio guide will introduce you to the history and heritage of Kilcormac, as we meet members of the community who have made this charming place their home. This is a truly ancient landscape, and during our journey we will hear of the area during the unimaginably distant past, when people camped nearby around 9,000 years ago at the edge of a great lake. Our audio guide will walk you through history and you will hear the story of St Cormac who came here over 1500 years ago in search of a peaceful place who in turn lent his name to the town.

We will hear about the Kilcormac Pieta which survived the ravages of Cromwell’s army and lay hidden in a bog for over sixty years. We will also hear the story of how Kilcormac became a hub of peat production in the 20th century and how as that business diminished a new amenity and wildlife sanctuary blossomed at Lough Boora in its place. As we explore the rich stories associated with Kilcormac, an enduring feature is the powerful sense of community that emerges down through the ages, along with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape in all its diversity.

Throughout the guide, you will hear local people narrating stories from the past. The guide also features music from Vincent Kennedy’s Kilcormac Cantata which was commissioned by Offaly County Council. It was the result of a public art project inspired by the stories, events and history of the people of Kilcormac. The work was recorded in November 2011 and the project involved national school students, members of Coláiste Naomh Cormac Grúpa Ceoil, the Frankford Rockers and St. Cormac’s Choir performing alongside professional musicians.

KILCORMAC HERITAGE TRAIL AUDIO GUIDE

KILCORMAC HERITAGE TRAIL AUDIO GUIDE

Title: Kilcormac Heritage Trail Audio Guide

Duration: 40 mins.

Summary:
Nestled between the Slieve Bloom Mountains and the waters of the Silver River in County Offaly, you’ll find a town full of stories. Take a self-guided tour to discover the tales of a community. You can enjoy this audio guide as you explore this historic town or even from the comfort of your own home. We recommend downloading before your trip, or simply hit play to hear the stories of Ireland.

Kilcormac Heritage Trail Audio Guide

This audio guide is an Abarta Heritage Production on behalf of Kilcormac Development Association. We would like to thank the members of Kilcormac Historical Society for their help and contributions to this guide and Sean Craven, Sylvia Sweeney, Tom Daly, Tom Egan and Seamus Barron for telling their stories. The audio guide was written by Neil Jackman and narrated by Gerry O’Brien. It was recorded in Bluebird Studios, Kildare, with sound engineer Declan Lonergan and producer Róisín Burke.

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