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Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Leitrim centre aiming to keep Irish heritage alive with popular stone wall course
Dry stone construction, the practice of building using only stone without any mortar is seen as a long standing rural tradition and an essential part of our history and social fabric. Dating from the neolithic period, in Ireland the patchwork of stone walls are still easily recognisable on our landscape and fields, and forge part of our identity as a people. In December 2024, the craft was added to the prestigious UNESCO list of protected cultural practices. Ronan Crehan from the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland and Office of Public Works will be giving a course this coming weekend at the Organic Centre in Leitrim. Mr Crehan is passionate about the craft, working in the Office of Public Works as part of their heritage services in the preservation and maintenance of the national monuments of Ireland. He is also a stone mason, dry stone walls instructor and member of the Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland and recognises the importance of safeguarding measures to protect our precious past for future generations. He says, 'Recently, drystone walling was recognised in Ireland as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. "This is fantastic, because this means that the craft and the walls can be protected. "Drystone walling has been making a steady come back over the past 20 or so years.' Mr Crehan has found that Irish people have been keen to help protect the walls on their land. 'As a course it is very popular, because a lot of people have drystone walls on their land and the courses give them access to the knowledge on how to repair and maintain them. "Drystone wall's and the craft of drystone walling is a living heritage and UNESCOs recognition of this has promoted and protected that even more,' said Mr Crehan. The Organic Centre in Leitrim is one of the pioneer centres to acknowledge the importance of stone walls to our culture providing dry stone walling courses for over two decades. Mr Crehan said The Organic centre is a perfect place to run the course, because the participants can see how a drystone wall works in a garden setting. "It can support biodiversity by creating shelter for small mammals and also a place for different plants and lichens to grow among the joints in the stone. "The participants take inspiration from this and can see how something like a drystone wall can work in their own garden,' said Mr Crehan. Mr Crehan's upcoming weekend course will be held on August 2 and 3, and those interested can book online at ring the Organic Centre on 0719854338.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Striking new artwork unveiled in Tipperary to celebrate town's legacy
Beelines, a new sculpture, has been unveiled on the main road into Clonmel, and is inspired by Clonmel's association with bees and honey making. The Tipperary town is known as the Vale of Honey, and the new artwork marking this has been installed on the N24 Cahir Road Roundabout, Ballingarrane, Clonmel. Designed by artist Kevin Killen, the artwork uses cold rolled metal steel tubes to arrange a distinctive pattern that symbolises the energetic flight patterns of bees to create a contemporary flower-like form on a silver stem. Funded by Tipperary County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW), the sculpture will act as a permanent gateway to the town of Clonmel, changing colours throughout the seasons as the light changes, and will be complemented with wildflowers that are planted by the Clonmel Borough District. Based in Belfast, artist Kevin Killen obtained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College, and completed specialist training in neon making in Dallas, Texas in 2009. His current practice focusses on capturing moments in time, representing life and people's journeys as snapshots of moments, which are often site-specific.
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
OPW bans tour guides from wearing green or orange at site of the Battle of the Boyne
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has banned tour guides from wearing green or orange clothing at the site in Meath where the Protestant King William III defeated the Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne. The location is of particular significance to unionists, as William's victory in 1690 established Protestant dominance in Ireland, and is commemorated by the Orange Order with a series of marches on July 12 each year. The rule prohibiting guides from wearing green or orange at the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre is not contained in the official OPW Guide Handbook, which is supplied to guides and information officers at heritage sites. Instead, the directive is being communicated directly to new guides by a supervisor at the visitor centre after they have been hired, according to emails released under freedom of information laws. The instruction, which is believed to be aimed at respecting the sensitivities of both unionist and nationalist visitors, is not the only unusual dress code directive issued by the OPW to its guides. A section of the handbook dealing with clothing and uniform requirements specifies that 'nudity is prohibited at all sites'. Asked why it was considered necessary to include this in its dress code for new tour guides, the OPW declined to comment. The Battle of the Boyne visitor centre was developed following the allocation of €15 million of government funding in 2005. Last year, a further €10 million was provided for the centre under the Shared Island initiative. The site was famously chosen as the venue for Ian Paisley's (left) first official meeting as Stormont first minister with Bertie Ahern (right) in 2007 where he presented the DUP leader with a musket used in the battle. File picture: Collins The site was famously chosen as the venue for Ian Paisley's first official meeting as Stormont first minister with Bertie Ahern in 2007. The then-Taoiseach presented the DUP leader with a musket used in the Battle of the Boyne. An email titled 'Welcome aboard' sent by a supervisor to a newly hired seasonal guide last year contained details of the dress code for staff at the visitor centre. It prohibits items including army jackets and clothes that feature 'slogans, badges or emblems'. The email stated that 'green and orange are not permitted on site'. The OPW provides an annual allowance for guides where colour-coded clothing is mandated by local management. This is payable at a rate of €210 for permanent guides, and €100 for seasonal workers. The OPW declined to comment when asked about the prohibition of green and orange clothing at the Battle of the Boyne site. Read More Loyalist bonfire on site with asbestos lit despite warnings
The Irish Sun
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Criminal Assets Bureau searching for new HQ as expansion plan continues in bid to increase crime funds crackdown
THE Criminal Assets Bureau is working to find a new HQ as it continues to expand, we can reveal. The bureau is currently based at Walter Scott House, a building in But chiefs are currently liaising with the Office of Public Works to find new facilities for their 101 staff, Justice Minister Last week, the Cabinet backed the most substantial reform to Ireland's civil asset forfeiture laws since their inception back in 1996. One of its key parts is cutting the time frame for selling assets deemed to be the proceeds of And the CAB will get extra investigative powers, including the freezing of bank accounts that are suspected of holding dirty cash. Read more in News A bill to enact the changes will now go before the Answering a parliamentary question, O'Callaghan said: 'I am aware that the work of CAB is expanding and I am conscious that the expansion of its numbers will require further facilities. 'My department has submitted a proposal for funding for CAB accommodation. "CAB is currently liaising with the OPW to find new accommodation. The Government will continue to support the growth and expansion of CAB to recover assets for the State. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN 'It is extremely important for criminals to know that if they stay in Ireland, their assets will be seized if it is not the case that they will be convicted and brought before the courts.' The CAB's major successes in recent years includes stripping Hutch thug James 'Mago' Gately of €600,000 worth of assets. 1 Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that his department has submitted a proposal for funding for CAB accommodation. Credit: Alamy
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Tender due for design of long-awaited flood relief scheme in Wicklow
The scheme was first initiated in 2002 following major flooding in 1986, 1989 and 2002. The planning application was lodged in May 2021 and an oral hearing was held in January 2022. In 2023 Wicklow County Council, funded by the Office of Public Works signed contracts with consultants to progress a detailed design and construction review. The scheme is part of the government's €1.3bn investment in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan. The overall aim of the scheme is to provide flood relief measures along the Avoca River and estuary to combat flooding while protecting residential and non-residential properties from flooding and subsequent damage. Site investigation works took place towards the end of 2024, which included a geophysical survey of the Arklow Town Marsh and the excavation of slit trenches along South Quay, the Harbour area, Harbour Road, and Bridge Street. Following a query from Cllr Peir Leonard at the July meeting of Wicklow County Council, director of services Theresa O' Brien said the project is moving towards a tender process. 'The flood protection scheme has its permission, so it won't be coming back before the Council. Full permission has been received for that.' Cllr Leonard asked if it could come back before councillors to have a look at the plans before they go out to tender for the design stage. Her request comes after a planning application was submitted to build a new public boardwalk/bridge for pedestrians and cyclists across Arklow marsh and the Avoca River to the Arklow Riverwalk. It forms part of a wider application to build a new 666 housing development on a site in Kilbride that includes a local centre, crèche, and 999 car parking spaces. The bridge element across the river will be constructed atop the concrete columns permitted as part of the scheme. Cllr Leonard said the bridge will play an important part in connecting the northern part of the town to the heart of the Main Street. 'It will bring much needed footfall for local traders.' she added.
