09.08.2022
Heritage Week 2022 in Dublin & Glendalough
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. Heritage Week 2022 runs from August 13 to 21 and there are events taking place throughout Dublin & Glendalough. Some are listed below. If you would like your parish Heritage Week event listed please contact dco@dublin.anglican.org
St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin
There is a packed programme for Heritage Week 2022 in St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Heritage Week events are free of charge but booking is essential for most. The full range of events and booking information is available on the cathedral’s website – https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/events/
Among the highlights are Belfry Tours which run daily from Saturday August 13 to Saturday August 20 between 10am and 4pm. The 60 minute tours include a talk on the history of bell ringing, the story of the Minor Tower and a chance to ring one of the bells.
Free guided Heritage week tours will run from August 13 to 20 at 3pm each day. Led by one of the cathedral’s expert guides the tours provide an opportunity to learn more about St Patrick’s story and explore its Gothic architecture.
A special talk, ‘Lives Remembered’ takes place on Monday August 15 at 6.30pm. The talk focuses on the 200–plus memorials in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
From Monday August 15 to Friday August 19 there will be a series of Rush Hour Recitals which will take place from 5.30pm to 6.10pm.
On Tuesday August 16 at 7pm there will be a panel discussion on ‘The Church of Ireland in the Revolutionary Period’. This will be moderated by RTE’s Donal Byrne and the panel will be made up of Dr Ian D’Alton, Martin Maguire RIA, Dr Ida Milne and Prof Brian Walker.
On Thursday August 18 there will be an Art Workshop at 7pm let by award–winning artist and educator Mags Harnett.
A series of Family Workshops will take place on Saturday August 20 between 10am and 4pm where participants will make their own tiles.
Christ Church Cathedral Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral has a varied programme scheduled for Heritage Week 2022. For full details and information on how to book see their website at https://christchurchcathedral.ie/heritage-week-2022/ Events are free but normal cathedral entry fee applies.
On Monday August 15 at 1pm Stuart Kinsella will lead a lunchtime historical tour of Christ Church Cathedral.
On Saturday August 18 there will be a Children’s Monks’ Tour of the cathedral at 2pm.
On Sunday August 21 ‘Once Upon a Time – a visual art storytelling walking tour’ will take place at 2pm.
On Friday August 19 there will be an opportunity to tour the bell town and ring the bells at 2pm.
On Saturday August 20 at 2pm there will be a Herbal Remedies Workshop.
St John’s Sandymount
St John’s Church, Park Avenue, Sandymount, will mark Heritage Week 2022 with a display “THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENTS AT ST JOHN’S CHURCH HALL, SANDYMOUNT 1883–1963”, featuring amateur dramatic societies and choirs that appeared on stage at the former St John’s Church Hall from its opening in 1883 until 1963, when it was closed. The display will be on view in the church on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August between 12 noon and 4pm, and on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August, also from 12 noon to 4pm each day.
Built on land leased from the Earl of Pembroke for ‘purposes ancillary to the church and for meetings connected therewith, and for the schools belonging thereto”, the St John’s Hall was once a hive of cultural activity, bustling with a packed programme of meetings, classes, bazaars, exhibitions, concerts, and what were termed “theatrical entertainments”.
The display recalls several groups that performed in the Hall or used it for rehearsals including the St John’s Society (1883–1899), the Pembroke Choral Society (1886–1895), the Pembroke Players (1919–1939), the Park Avenue Players (1939–1955) and the Dublin Religious Drama Group (1946–1965).
Individual actors, musicians and conductors are remembered, some of whom went on to pursue professional careers on stage and in the media. The groups also provided a meeting place for young people: many a romance blossomed at St John’s Hall!
The Hall ceased to be used for theatrical entertainments after 1963 when it was sold by the church. It became a School of Fencing. It is now awaiting restoration and redevelopment by new owners.
The principal sources of information for the display are newspaper archives: national and Dublin newspapers gave extensive coverage of amateur productions in their theatre and music columns. Church and family records and personal reminiscences are also utilised.
The venue is the Church of St John the Evangelist, Park Avenue, Sandymount. The nearest Dart Station is Sydney Parade and bus nos C1, C2, 47, 4, 7 and 7a stop nearby.
Christ Church Bray
On Thursday August 18 from 11am to 12.15pm in Christ Church, Church Road, Bray A98 W866 (Church open from 10am) there will be a tour of the stained glass windows in Christ Church Bray. The windows span eight decades from the 1860s to the 1930s. The tour will be blended with a talk on the concurrent history of the Parish and the Town.
The church will also be open on Friday August 19 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm.
Parking available. Accessible by public transport.
If your parish is holding an event for Heritage Week 2022 please let us know and we will add it to the list. Contact dco@dublin.anglican.org
Monkestown Parish Church
Monkstown Parish Church will be open from 2pm – 5pm daily from Sunday August 13 – Sunday August 21 inclusive. Visitors are welcome to visit this church which was opened in 1831.
This year there will be an exhibition relating to the Schoolhouse in the church grounds, which is currently undergoing major renovation for parish use. Past pupils of the school, which closed in the 1960s, can see a range of photographs and memorabilia.
Bus 7 or 7a to the Knox Hall or Salthill & Monkstown Dart Station.
Nun’s Cross Church, Killiskey (Ashford)
Nun’s Cross church will be open during Heritage Week on Saturday and Sunday August 13 and 14 and on the following weekend August 20 and 21 from 2.30pm to 5pm. Patricia Butler plans to give a tour each day at 3pm and a YouTube video based on her book “Nun’s Cross Church and its Treasures” will be available to view.