Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills

Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills – Saturday 16th August, Ennistymon

The Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills returns to Ennistymon on Saturday 16th August, celebrating heritage, community, and craft through a full day of activities. This free event brings together local makers, musicians, and storytellers to share traditional skills and cultural heritage in a welcoming, hands-on setting.

The Festival Hub at the Courthouse Gallery (12–4pm) will feature Meet the Makers demonstrations, including basket making, natural building with cob, stone carving, strawcraft, hide tanning, knitting, and willow weaving. Alongside, the Land and Lore Maker’s Market will showcase local producers and organisations, while live traditional music sets the tone. Outside, enjoy a lively Céilí Mór led by Louise O’Connor and the Rekindle Band, followed by the North Clare Refugee All Stars.

Throughout Ennistymon, the Rekindle Heritage Trail (10am–8pm) offers heritage walks, workshops, and demonstrations. Highlights include Brendan P. Lynch’s Shopfronts Heritage Walk, a traditional piping workshop with Blackie O’Connell, Feidhlim Harty’s guided walk on the ecology of the Inagh River, Palestinian Tatreez embroidery with Reem, straw mumming with Maeve Collins, and a blacksmithing talk with Reece Foster. Local galleries, shops, and pubs will host open sessions and demonstrations, from woodworking to natural skincare.

The festival concludes with a Traditional Singing Session at Cooley’s Pub (6–8pm), welcoming all to share songs and celebrate together.

Funded by the Heritage Council, the Arts Council, and Clare County Council, Shannon Ferries, Fitzpatricks Supervalue Ennistymon

Limited Capacity Workshops – Booking Recommended

Please note that all workshops have limited capacity, so early booking is strongly recommended.

Ennistymon Shopfronts Heritage Walk
10–12pm (meet at Falls Hotel, 9.45am)
With Brendan P. Lynch, exploring historic shopfronts and their 1901/1911 census occupants. Ends with music at Byrne’s Fiddle Shop.
Booking essential: Text 0863473069 or email bplynch@hotmail.com

Shared Steps: Fostering Community through Tradition
11–12.30pm, Pot Duggans
Edwina Guckian leads a workshop on the role of music and dance in building community.

Traditional Piping Workshop
12–1.30pm, Cooley’s
Blackie O’Connell introduces the heritage, sound, and techniques of the uilleann pipes.

Living Waterways: Heritage & Ecology of the Inagh River
12–1pm, below the Falls Hotel
Guided walk with Feidhlim Harty exploring biodiversity, ecology, and cultural heritage of the Inagh River.

Traditional Blacksmithing Talk & Demo
1–2.15pm, Courthouse Gallery
Reece Foster shares his journey into traditional metalworking and the revival of heritage skills.

Palestinian Tatreez Embroidery Workshop
2.30–3.30pm, Courthouse Gallery
Hands-on embroidery workshop with Reem (Gorza Ireland), sharing the heritage of Palestinian craft.

Live Woodwork Demonstration
2–3pm, Eugene’s Pub
Eoin Reardon demonstrates the making of a traditional Leitrim Chair.