Heritage Week In Abbey

Heritage Week in Abbey

National Heritage Week 2023 runs from 12^th to 20^th August this year and like most other heritage groups throughout the country, the event is being celebrated in the village of Abbey.

On Tuesday 15^th August the annual cemetery Mass in the unique setting of Kilnalahan Monastery will be celebrated at 7 pm.  Kilnalahan is the site of the only Carthusian settlement in Ireland founded in 1252.  It was later occupied by the Franciscans in 1371, when they established the order’s first new foundation in Ireland since 1325.  The Franciscans continued their ministry in Kilnalahan well into the 18^th century.

Following the Cemetery Mass a talk, by Historian Dr Tomás Mac Conmara who is currently conducting an audit of Oral Heritage in East Galway funded by Galway County Council, will take place in Abbey’s Community Centre at 8.30 pm.  For those interested in remaining for Dr Mac Conmara’s talk, light refreshments will be served in the Community Centre prior to the talk where there will also be an opportunity to view an exhibition of some of the past activities of Abbey Heritage Group.

Abbey Heritage is currently engaged in a project ‘Mapping the Heritage Sites of Abbey’ which is being funded by the National Heritage Council and undertaken by Heritage Consultant, Zena Hoctor.  This mapping project will be presented on Thursday 17^th August at 7 pm in Abbey Community Centre and incorporates three short films which will be launched on that date.  The first of these films entitled ‘A Tour of Kilnalahan’ is presented by Dr Christy Cunniffe.  The second film ‘Memories of Abbey’s past’ relates to the commercial life in Abbey in bygone years and is a conversation between John Holohan, Teresa Hynes and Padraig Lynch from the three businesses that formerly existed in Abbey.  The third and final film ‘The Ballygowan Evictions’ is presented by Ann Hodgins who was born in Ballygowan and who relates the history of those events from the late 1880s.

Abbey Heritage looks forward to a good attendance at these events and you can have further information by emailing francesholohan@gmail.com or telephoning 087 2899282.