Friday evening saw the official unveiling of a new Heritage Interpretative Panel in the picturesque village of Shillelagh by local historians and special guests of honour, Jerry Cassidy (82) and Paddy Behan (91).
The colourful panel acknowledges and celebrates the rich heritage found in the planned estate village and its surroundings and the unique part it plays in Ireland’s history and folklore.
Constructed at the heart of the Fitzwilliam Estate in Ireland during the 17th century, the panel explores the evolution of the village, it’s amenities, Coollattin House, and more recent additions such as the Shillelagh Stick Oak Sculpture that honours the local tradition of making shillelagh sticks and a restored water fountain relocated from the estate’s walled garden.
Also highlighted, is the natural landscape that boasts rolling hills full of wildlife and mature woodlands – most notably the majestic Tomnafinnoge Woods, the last surviving example of the mature oak woodland that once clothed this area of south Wicklow.
Its installation next to the Village Green, follows months of research to identify the key natural and built heritage features before being brought vividly to life with a specially commissioned art piece created by renowned designer Paul Francis.
To view the artwork and to read more on the points of interest featured in the project, please click HERE
The Shillelagh panel is the first of three to be unveiled in County Wicklow in the coming weeks, with the villages of Lacken and Ashford busy organising the final touches to their planned events.
Since 2008, Wicklow Uplands Council has worked with a number of local communities to develop the network of interpretative panels which promote and raise awareness of the natural and built heritage found in the towns and villages throughout County Wicklow.
The ongoing project relies on strong community participation with each group researching and discovering the key heritage features found in their locality. The addition of the three panels to the villages of Shillelagh, Lacken and Ashford in 2020, will bring the growing network to sixteen.
This project is a partnership between village communities, Wicklow County Council and Wicklow Uplands Council. The funding for these three units was made possible with the kind assistance from County Wicklow Partnership (LEADER). Previous panels received funding allocations from The Heritage Council and the Department for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Local communities also contribute to the cost of the panel.
Wicklow Uplands Council would like to wholeheartedly thank and congratulate the Shillelagh People’s Property Company for their commitment and collaboration during the development of this panel, most especially Joe Dolan, whose passionate and knowledgeable input proved to be an invaluable asset throughout.
The community group has been incredibly busy of late with the installation of sculptures, restoration projects and the creation of a Shillelagh Heritage Trail which has recently benefited from a wonderful mapboard that sits next to the interpretative panel (which you can see in some of the photos).
We would also like to thank the local community, members of Wicklow Uplands Council, members of Wicklow County Council, Councillors John Mullen and Vincent Blake and Cathaoirleach of Wicklow, Pat Kennedy, for joining us to celebrate the occasion of its unveiling.
Community groups interested in participating in the project should contact the office to discuss further.