Annual Report 2011.pdf (size 6 MB) - Offaly County Council

predominantly Offaly experts working on a voluntary
basis. Heritage Week in August continues to grow with a
number of events to choose from each of the nine days,
the majority organized by community groups. A unique
aspect to the 2011 Heritage Week was the day trip to the
Harry Clarke windows of County Offaly which was
featured in a full page article by the Irish Times. The
Annual Heritage Seminar was held on Friday 18 th and
Saturday 19th November with the Edenderry Historical
Society hosting the Friday night and the OHAS, the
Saturday. Field trips to Gallen monastic site and to the
new Clara Bog Visitor centre were on offer on the
Saturday morning.
programme for Tidy Towns groups and the Heritage
Section is involved in mentoring a number of groups and
providing advice to all groups on aspects of the built and
natural heritage. Work continues to control and eradicate
the invasive Japanese Knotweed. An unanticipated and
unusual aspect of work in 2011 was the investigation of a
mine shaft which opened up in Blundell Park in Edenderry
in the autumn.
The Engage with Architecture programme in 2011
involved activities and events during the month of May.
This was a joint project between the Arts, Conservation
and Heritage sections of the Council. It was a new and
very productive departure involving exhibitions, talks,
schools workshops, trails and bus tours all centered on a
shop unit in Main Street, Tullamore.
Work continues with the National Monuments Service on
recording and researching the castles of Offaly for a
forthcoming publication.
The Heritage officer works with many sections in the
Council. The delivery of the Birr Public Realm Plan with
Birr Town Council involves a considerable body of work.
The Community & Enterprise has set up a mentoring
John Feehan at the launch of the Croghan book
A unique project for 2011 was the involvement in the
planning and arrangements for the visit to Moneygall by
the President of the United States in May.
A considerable amount of the time in the heritage office
Offaly Local Authorities Annual Report 2011
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