Wicklow Heritage Trails Project – Open Information Evening
An open information meeting will be hosted by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council and the Wicklow Uplands Council in Roundwood Parish Centre at 7pm on Wednesday next, 4th July 2018, to discuss the Wicklow Heritage Trails Recording Project. The meeting will focus on using the network of walking trails in the east of the county (existing and in development) as a basis on which to develop a Local Heritage Recording Project which will connect, via heritage recording and interpretation, the trails and associated towns, villages and places along the way.
This project will focus on the authentic and unique stories of communities that live in the spectacular and varied landscapes of Wicklow. Abarta Heritage have been appointed to compile information using local information and other sources and to generate digital ‘points of interest’. It is intended that this project will help to inform the future development of visitor and tourism interpretation to promote this area as part of Ireland’s Ancient East.
Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer with Wicklow County Council said:
“Local people know their area better than anyone else, we would like to engage with local communities, groups and individuals to record their stories relating to the historic settlements, wildlife and the rich cultural heritage of the area”
Brian Dunne, co-ordinator with Wicklow Uplands Council, has been working with landowners on the development of agreed access trails. Brian explained the focus of this project:
“There is good network of agreed access routes already in place in the east of the county from Bray to Woodenbridge” he explained adding: “The focus of this project will be on this geographic area, incorporating towns and villages along the way such as Kilmacanogue, Roundwood, Annamoe, Laragh, Rathdrum and Avoca”.
The Wicklow Trails Heritage Recording Project is co-ordinated jointly by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council and the Wicklow Uplands Council with funding support from The Heritage Council through the County Wicklow Heritage Plan Fund. Abarta Heritage are absolutely thrilled and grateful to have been appointed by Wicklow County Council and Wicklow Uplands Council to work with them on this exciting new community heritage project.
Other heritage recording projects have been carried out in recent years in the Blessington Lakeside area, the River Liffey, West Wicklow and South West Wicklow. For more see: www.countywicklowheritage.org.
