This weekend see the welcome return of a Dry Stone Wall Course to Co. Wicklow. Organised by The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland, the 2 day course offers an opportunity to learn how to build, maintain, and repair dry stone walls. Referring to the practice of building using only stone without any mortar, this is a 2-Day practical course held in conjunction with the National Organic Training Skillnet and takes place in Laragh, Co. Wicklow, on May 28th and 29th.

Open to everyone interested in the craft, participants do not need to be a member of the organisation to join this workshop and can choose to attend one or both days. Further information on the course, its costs and to register, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Practices of dry stone building vary throughout the island of Ireland and are often a feature to the upland landscape, with farmers, landowners, communities, government bodies and other parties continuing the craft, which is often seen as an innate skill passed through generations.

In 2018, UNESCO announced the addition of Dry Stone walling to the listing of activities of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was followed the following year with Dry Stone Construction being officially recognised by the state with its inclusion to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage which acknowledges the unique practices of Irish ‘living cultural heritage’. The creation of the notable inventory is to provide a status to protect and preserve traditions for generations. To view the Inventory details and to discover more on the craft, or indeed other crafts recognised, please visit https://nationalinventoryich.chg.gov.ie/dry-stone…/

This weekend see the welcome return of a Dry Stone Wall Course to Co. Wicklow. Organised by The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland, the 2 day course offers an opportunity to learn how to build, maintain, and repair dry stone walls. Referring to the practice of building using only stone without any mortar, this is a 2-Day practical course held in conjunction with the National Organic Training Skillnet and takes place in Laragh, Co. Wicklow, on May 28th and 29th.

Open to everyone interested in the craft, participants do not need to be a member of the organisation to join this workshop and can choose to attend one or both days. Further information on the course, its costs and to register, please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Practices of dry stone building vary throughout the island of Ireland and are often a feature to the upland landscape, with farmers, landowners, communities, government bodies and other parties continuing the craft, which is often seen as an innate skill passed through generations.

In 2018, UNESCO announced the addition of Dry Stone walling to the listing of activities of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was followed the following year with Dry Stone Construction being officially recognised by the state with its inclusion to the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage which acknowledges the unique practices of Irish ‘living cultural heritage’. The creation of the notable inventory is to provide a status to protect and preserve traditions for generations. To view the Inventory details and to discover more on the craft, or indeed other crafts recognised, please visit https://nationalinventoryich.chg.gov.ie/dry-stone…/

Information On The Organisers:

The Dry Stone Wall Association of Ireland was founded in 2009 to promote the craft and awareness of dry stone building in Ireland. The National Organic Training Skillnet is co-funded by Skillnet Ireland and network companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher education, Research, Innovation and Science.

– Featured photo is of a similar workshop that took place in 2017 above the famed granite village of Ballyknocken and the Blessington Lakes in west Wicklow.