The Fingal Heritage Network Celebrate Heritage Week 2022

Members of Fingal Heritage and Historical Societies came together in St Sylvester’s Parish Hall Malahide to celebrate Heritage Week for the first time since 2019 and a fantastic evening was had by all.

The gathering was addressed by Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker and Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony before they shared a series of short talks and stories on the Heritage of the County.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony thanked the members of the Heritage Network for their work in Fingal in preserving and promoting Heritage saying “Fingal’s rich Heritage is visible all around us in the landscape and historic buildings and monuments but our cultural heritage is equally important to the identity of Fingal and us as Fingallians.

“I want to praise the work you are all doing to preserve this cultural heritage and keep alive and share the stories of those who came before us and whose lives have shaped our County.”

Christine Baker Fingal Heritage Officer thanked the Network members who had organised the event and said: “I am delighted to be able to meet you all again to celebrate Heritage Week together in the same room after so long. Of course tonight we are thinking of the members we have lost since we were last together and also all those who can’t join us tonight.”

Anne Collins from Balbriggan opened the evening with a talk on the wonderful resource that is the 1937 schools’ collection followed by Peadar Bates of Donabate/Portrane who continued the schools theme with a talk on Luffrey’s College Burrow Road and Myles Reilly who told the story of Andrew and Tom Kettle.

Pat Kelly of Lusk shared images and stories of the wildflowers of Lusk and Paula Butler spoke on behalf of Loughshinny/Rush about the Rising Bee project by An Post before a break for the welcome tea and even more welcome chat and catch up with old friends.

Michael Ryan from Malahide opened the second part of the evening with the history of the Malahide Flower show and Seán O’Gorman from the Raven History Society was joined by Jim Monks to enact story of the Seaweed wars.

Thomas Murphy of Rowlestown brought us back to Oldtown 1947 and the excitement that greeted the switching on of the lights with the arrival of rural electrification and Geraldine Clarke of Skerries gave a short introduction to the history and various styles of lace.

Paddy Ryan the hardworking MC on the night thanked Christine Baker for all her support for the Network particularly during Covid as we transitioned to online and Zoom.

He also thanked Mick Kelly who put the programme together and all the societies for taking part. The evening was brought to a lively end with songs and lore of Fingal from David O’Connor from Ballyboughal and everyone agreeing that it was great to be back.

The Fingal Heritage Network is made up of Heritage and Historical Societies and is supported by Fingal County Council through the Heritage Officer Christine Baker.

The work of the Societies on an ongoing basis includes researching local history, putting on talks programmes, guiding historical walks and running museums.

For more information on the Fingal Heritage see https://www.fingal.ie/heritage-and-conservation and on the Heritage Network see https://www.fingal.ie/heritage-groups-and-societies