We are really excited to be part of Heritage Week !
Our last Open Afternoon will take place on Saturday the 26th of August and we would be delighted to have your company for one final Hurrah !  Opening up for these five evenings this summer has been a wonderful experience for us. We have met so many interesting people who have a genuine interest in local or medieval history or archaeology or many other areas of interest of which Clonmines is such a wonderful example. Our wonderful guide for the last three evenings has been Arnaud de Volder who has entertained and enlightened us with ease and eloquence. We thank him most sincerely !

As this is Heritage Week and our past and current projects are heavily supported by the Heritage Council, we are delighted to welcome Mr. Ian Doyle who is head of Conservation at the Heritage Council. Gates will open as usual at 3 p.m. and Ian will proceed with a walking tour at 5 p.m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwbYK7Du1yQ

As usual, Mags Codd will host her art exhibition and will have beautiful, reasonably priced drawings and prints available for sale. These are ideal for presents.
http://www.magscodd.com/na-seacht-gcaisleaacutein.html

Despite the myriad of activities on in the south east on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, many interested and interesting visitors came for a walking tour with Arnaud de Volder. Can you spot anyone you know ?

We had a great afternoon in Clonmines on the 8th of July ! Our Guest Speaker Arnaud de Volder was a great hit and everyone who could stay for his talk was greatly impressed by his knowledge and delivery. Thanks Arnaud !

So our first event was what you might call a "soft opening" !  Although we were ready for the thousands that couldn't find us or lost their way,  we were delighted to meet those who did make their way down the long lane  ! To welcome such interested and respectful visitors to the site here in Clonmines was both a privilege and an honour for us. The inaugural address at 5 p.m. was short and succinct ! Mrs. Domini Codd outlined the work that had been carried in recent years with the support of the Heritage Council and Wexford County Council and how their request that the public be afforded the opportunity to access the site resulted in the site being open for five afternoons this summer. On thanking Mrs. Joan Codd for her hospitality, she acknowledged her commitment to the preservation of the site and her appreciation of the support of the Heritage and County Councils. Mags Codd's art exhibition was very well received and will be a feature on our other open days.

So the day has arrived and we are working hard to welcome visitors this evening, One little boy has been practising "The Neamstown Shore" and all about the Black Castle. Would that the other two boys were as diligent in preparing for their debuts as Tour Guides and Buskers ! We have done a 50/50 deal where they get 50% of what they earn and the rest goes to the castle fund ! I hope that sounds fair ? Our last castle is the Fortified Parish Church of St.Nicholas. Please be respectful of the graves of our family members and local people which are within the church and around the other side in the graveyard. Which is the piscina, which is the aumbry and which photograph shows the sedilia ? Come on down this afternoon and we will tell you ! Forgive the "Arty" photographs ! I should have left the "Art" to the artist Mags Codd whose exhibition is stunning. http://www.magscodd.com/

This is the Cowboy's Chapel, a fortified church and tower. Above you can see the wonderful rib vault, but what other vault was over the gallery ? Come and see for yourself this Saturday from 3 - 7 p.m. or on one of the other four Saturdays that the site is open this summer.
Art Exhibition by Mags Codd.http://www.magscodd.com/