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HAVE YOU GOT THE GIFT OF THE GAB?

Monday 15th August: Think you have the gift of the gab? This Saturday (20th August) is National Tell Tale Day and across Ireland the old Irish tradition of storytelling will be celebrated with storytelling themed events for children and adults as National Heritage Week kicks off. 

National Heritage Week runs from Saturday 20th – Sunday 28th August. Over 1400 events are scheduled to take place nationwide during the nine day celebration of our heritage, the majority of which are free of charge. 

As well as attending events on Saturday you can also play your part and enter the National Heritage Week Tell Tale Storytelling Competition. Simply record an audio or video file of your tale or memory about your favourite place (fact or fiction), favourite folk tale or fictional story about Irish / European heritage and send it to heritageweektelltale@gmail.com . Stories can be recorded on your smart phone or camera. Supporting the Tell Tale Storytelling Competition are 2FM DJ Rick O’Shea, TG4 Weather Presenter Cormac Ó Loideán have all recorded their own tales for National Heritage Week. Their tales will shortly be available to view on www.heritageweek.ie and the Heritage Week Facebook page. 

Speaking about National Tell Tale Day Conor Newman, Heritage Council Chairman said, “storytelling is a tradition that for many of us has been lost due to a lack of time and an overreliance on technology. The simple act of telling a tale brings an added dimension to our sense of place, connecting us to our landscape and historic sites, as they are brought to life. The utterance of a place name makes us think of all kinds of memories – the feel of the neighbourhood; gangs of kids playing, different characters, smells. All of those things are intangible and there is no record of them except in your head and in the heads of all the people that were there too. Telling stories about places is a remarkable tradition in Ireland. We have an amazing archive of stories which are better and more complete than any other country in the world. We are encouraging people to get involved in National Tell Tale Day and take the opportunity to tell a story that has a particular meaning to them. There are a diverse range of storytelling themed events taking place on Saturday to celebrate National Tell Tale Day”.  

A full list of events taking place this Saturday and throughout National Heritage Week which is available free throughout the country in Fáilte Ireland Tourist Offices, Libraries, OPW Sites, Bus Eireann Stations, County Council Offices etc. 

A snapshot of the storytelling events taking place this Saturday for National Tell Tale Day:

  • Cavan – Celebrating Our Landscapes (Free) Saturday 20th August 2- 5pm. Join local poets, seanchaithe and musicians for a family friendly afternoon of storytelling and puppetry to celebrate the landscapes of West Cavan. This event includes refreshments. Event Organiser/Organisation: Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark in association with Cavan County Heritage Office. Venue: The Old Railway Station, Belturbet,Railway Road, Belturbet, Co. Cavan.
  • Cork – Hill Walk with Tall Tales (Free) 12 – 2pm. A hill walk with local stories. Views of west cork and beyond. Event Organiser/Organisation: Reenascreena Community Action Group.  Venue: Carrigfadda Hill, Carrigfadda Reenascreena, Rosscarbery, Cork-County. Organiser Name: Tedd Coakley, Contact Address: Reenascreena Co Cork Email: tacoakley@eircom.net Telephone: 0868757341.
  • Dublin – Magic Lantern Show with Readings of the Short Stories of Patrick Pearse by Cois Tine (Free) Saturday 20th August 7 – 8.30pm.  Readings of some of the short stories of P. H. Pearse accompanied by magic lantern             illuminations and live fiddle music. NOTE: Admission is free but places must be booked on 01 4934208. Event Organiser/Organisation: Pearse Museum/ St. Enda’s Park. Venue: Pearse Museum / St. Enda’s Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 Organiser Name: Brian Crowley Email: brian.crowley@opw.ie Telephone: 01 4934208.
  • Dublin – The Casino Tails of Marino Mice with the 18th century Mouse Master (Free) Saturday 20th August 3- 4.30pm. Join an exciting tour with the18th century Mouse Master to hear the story of the famous White Mice of the Casino Marino. Event Organiser/Organisation: Casino Marino, Venue:        Casino Marino, Cherrymount Crescent, Malahide Road, Marino, Dublin 3. Organiser Name: Michael Doyle. Email: casinomarino@opw.ie Telephone: 01-8331618.
  • Dublin – Reading With Author Tom McCaughren (Free) Saturday 20th August 12 – 1pm. Author Tom McCaughren reads from his award winning fox books including Run with the Wind and Run Swift, Run Free. Suitable for children 9 – 12 years. Admission is free but booking is required. To book please call 01 603 0317. Event Organiser/Organisation: National Library Of Ireland Venue: National Library of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin 2, Dublin City. Organiser Name: Sarah O`Connor Email: soconnor@nli.ie Telephone: 01 603 0317.
  • Donegal – Tell Tale (Free) Saturday 20th August  11am – 1pm. Storytelling tales, pavement art and a nature treasure hunt – what more could a child under 12 years old want? Tales of faeries, giants and much more brought to life by library staff and children sharing together. Event Organiser/Organisation: Milford Community Library, Venue: Milford Community Library, Main Street, Milford, Donegal. Organiser Name: Karen Sheehy. Email: milford@donegallibrary.ie Telephone: 074 9153927.
  • Galway – Storytime at Athenry Castle in Conjunction with National Tell Tale Day (Free) Saturday 20th August 3 – 4pm. Storytime for children under 8 yrs. in conjunction with National Tell Tale Day. Event Organiser/Organisation: The Office of Public Works, Venue: Athenry Castle, Athenry Town, Galway. Organiser Name: Fiona Cannon. Email: athenrycastle@opw.ie Telephone: 091-844797.
  • Kerry – Of Sea-dragons, Mermaids And Hermit Kings: Hear The Tales Of St. Brendan The Navigator (Free) Saturday 20th August  3- 4pm. Hear the tales of Kerry’s favourite Saint who is credited with the discovery of America 1000 years before Columbus. This story telling event is organized by the Saint Brendan Heritage Committee. NOTE: Follow us on Facebook via The St. Brendan Visitor Centre or Twitter (StBrendan1). Event Organiser/Organisation: Cumann Bhreanainn, Venue: St. Brendan Heritage Park Fenit, Kerry. Email: gearoidod@eircom.net Telephone: 087 2522902.
  • Limerick – Myths And Legends Of The Hunt Museum Tour (Free) Saturday 20th August  2.15 – 3.15 pm. Discover the myths and legends of The Hunt Museum. Join us as we unlock the stories behind the stories and explain the inexplicable! Event Organiser/Organisation: The Hunt Museum, Venue: The Hunt Museum, Customs House, Rutland Street, Limerick. Organiser Name: Dr Dominique Bouchard Email: education@huntmuseum.com Telephone: 061 312833.
  • Longford - Tell A Tale Day: The Magic Story Bag (Free) Saturday 20th August  3- 4pm. Celebrate Tell a Tale Day with the guides. Can you create your own story? Enter Tallest Tale Competition and win a prize. For 7-12 years. Storytelling fun and games with the guides. Create stories and a prize for the ‘Tallest Tale’. 7 – 12 years. Adult Supervision required. Event Organiser/Organisation: Corlea Trackway/OPW Venue: Corlea Trackway, Keenagh, Longford, Organiser Name: Mary Forbes Contact Address: Corlea Trackway, Keenagh, Co. Longford. Email: corlea@opw.ie Telephone: 043 33 22386
  • Roscommon - Storytelling: Your Memories of Strokestown Park House (Free) Saturday 20th August  2 – 3pm. Share a memory of a visit to Strokestown. Relax on the grass and listen to experiences, memories, secrets, and yarns, then tell your own! Part of National Tell Tale Day. Meet at Woodland Walk Café in the park. Event Organiser/Organisation: Strokestown Park, Venue: Strokestown Park, Strokestown, Roscommon. Organiser Name: John O`Driscoll. Email:  HeritageWeekStrokestown@gmail.com Telephone: 071 963 3013.
  • Wexford – Launch of Oral History Interviews (Free) Saturday 20th August  2.30 – 3.30 County Wexford Oral History Programme launch of Poulpeasty people talking about their lives, stories and aspects of local life which are quickly disappearing. Hear about school and childhood, work, trades and crafts, fairs and festivals, shopping and lots more. Venue: New Ross Library Barrack Lane, New Ross, Wexford Organiser Name: Dearbhla Ní Laighin Contact Address: New Ross Library, Barrack Lane New Ross, Co. Wexford. Email:  newrosslib@wexfordcoco.ie Telephone: 051 421 877.
  • Laois – To BEE or Not to BEE Natural Heritage Event (Free) Saturday 20th August  2 – 4pm. This interactive theatre game ‘To BEE or not to BEE’ is a riddle set by carnival characters, Shaky and Spear. What is the best way to mind the earth? Evolution or Revolution? Enter the carnival game and spin the Wheel of Fortune, open the Book of the Future and see what challenges face you. Event Organiser/Organisation: Portarlington Community Development Association – Art and Heritage Venue: Derryounce Woods- Beside Spa Bridge, Portarlington, Laois Organiser Name: Celia Deverell. Contact Address: Portarlington Community Centre, Email: sandracarrpcda@gmail.com Telephone: 057 864 5728.
  • Mayo - National Tell Tale Day: A Tales Of Wildlife (Free) Saturday 20th August  2 – 3pm. Listen to tales of wildlife from near and far. Feel free to come and tell your own tales of wildlife during the story telling. Event Organiser/Organisation: Ballycroy National Park. Venue: Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, Ballycroy, Mayo. Organiser Name: Mags Flaherty. Email: ballycroyvisitorcentre@environ.ie Telephone: 098 49888.
  • Waterford - Storytelling with Neil de Búrca (Free) Saturday 20th August  11am – 12.30pm. Storytelling with Neil de Búrca who captivates his audiences with his range of tales from the lively and funny to the ghoulish and absurd! Event Organiser/Organisation: Waterford County Council Venue: Central Library, Davitt’s Quay, Dungarvan, Waterford. Organiser Name: Bernadette Guest Contact Address: Waterford County Council, Civic Offices, Dungarvan. Email: bguest@waterfordcoco.ie Telephone: 058 22000.
  • Westmeath - The Tale Of The Wicked Earl (Free) Saturday 20th August  2 – 4pm. Hear the Tale of The Wicked Earl, Robert Rochfort who imprisoned his young wife Mary Molesworth for 31 years for an alleged infidelity. A guided tour by Bartle D’Arcy Belvedere General Manager, explaining the series of tragic events that shaped the destiny of the estate forever. Event Organiser/Organisation: Belvedere House Gardens & Park, Venue: Belvedere House Gardens and Park, Mullingar, Westmeath. Organiser Name: Bartle D`Arcy Contact Address: Belvedere House Gardens and Park, Mullingar, Westmeath. Email: bdarcy@westmeathcoco.ie Telephone: 044 9349060.

 “In addition to these storytelling events, there are a wide range of other events taking place nationwide during National Heritage Week. It is the diversity of these events that makes the week so unique. When the Heritage Council first took over the running of National Heritage Week in 2005 there were just 500 events taking place during the week. Today the week is over double the size and this is a direct result of the increasing levels of community involvement we are seeing nationwide, in particular among volunteer groups. Last year, over 370,000 people attended events throughout the week, with over 1300 events already registered for 2011 we expect this year to be the biggest National Heritage Week to date”, added Ms. Smyth.  

To enter the National Heritage Week Tell Tale Storytelling Competition simply record your tale and email an audio / video file of your story to heritageweektelltale@gmail.com. Don’t forget to give your story a title and state which age group you are entering. The competition is open to those 15 years and older.  Tales should be no more than 3-5 minutes in length. Stories may be in the public domain and posted on the National Heritage Week Facebook page. The winning story in each category will be decided by a panel of heritage experts. Prizes include a weekend for two in Kinnity Castle and €300 shopping voucher. The competition will open on Saturday 20th August and close on Tuesday 13th September. 

For updates on events throughout the week, log on to www.heritageweek.ie or follow us on Twitter @heritageweek or the Heritage Week Facebook page.

ENDS

Further information:

Michelle Tritschler, MKC Communications, 01 7038604 / 086 3846630 

Note to Editor:

The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland’s national heritage. National heritage includes Monuments, Archaeological objects, Heritage objects, Architectural heritage, Flora, Fauna, Wildlife habitats, Landscapes, Seascapes, Wrecks, Geology, Heritage gardens and parks, and Inland waterways.

Established under the Heritage Act 1995, and operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Heritage Council provides advice to the Minister, and partners and networks with Local Authorities and a wide range of other organisations and individuals to promote Ireland’s heritage.

National Heritage Week is co-ordinated in Ireland by the Heritage Council in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and is part of European Heritage Days, which is celebrated in over 49 countries across Europe.