Milltown end Heritage Week with family day

THE village of Milltown is to celebrate the end of Heritage Week in the most curious of fashions – with a family day beside the Hanged Man.

To those less aware of the locality, The Hanged Man is one of the most famous pubs along the canal, and has an ideal location for leisure between the premises and the canal.

This will be the second year in a row the village has done their bit to celebrate Heritage Week, and the canalside festivities will occur this Sunday (25 August) – the final day of Heritage Week - between the hours of noon and 5pm.

“This is just to celebrate what we have in the village,” said organiser Pearl Voigt.

“We’re going to have an exhibition of old photos of place and people, which caused great nostalgia last year,” she said.

“We have a number of marquees along the canal for all the craft stalls, including bog oak and wood-turning, and a display of ring throwing by All-Ireland champ Christy Downey, who was very popular last year,” she revealed.

“In the Old School, the Milltown Art Group will be exhibiting their work…and there will be a vintage display of old tools and implements as a point of conversation,” she said.

Local woman Katie O’Rourke will continue the heritage theme with a demonstration of all stages of ancient wool production.

“We’ll akso have all the kid’s ususals. Like a bouncy castle and face-painting,” she said.

The Old Mill is from the 13th century, and there is an old poster in the Freeman’s Journal from 1820 for canal trips out to Milltown, where they could change to a horse and trap to go to the Curragh races.

This tradition will be continued with boat trips on the canal on Sunday down as far as the Point of Gib, as well as paddleboarding for the slightly more intrepid.

“There is no admission charge, and everything’s free bar the coffee and tea,” said Pearl, “apart from what the craft people charge”.

Parking will be available in the school car park.

“Last year was a great success, and it was lovely to see everybody along the canal enjoying the biodiversity, and the sunshine, and we are delighted to be celebrating our heritage,” she concluded.

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