Spotting the wild birds and looping around waterways
By Mary Dennehy
BIRD-watching in Sean Walsh Park and a looped waterways walk are among the activities being organised locally for this year’s National Heritage Week.
There’s a host of events happening right across the city, with the Tallaght Community Council (TCC) in South Dublin County, also organising two events this year.
Sean Walsh Park
The voluntary community group has organised bird-watching in Sean Walsh Park on August 18 from 10.30am to 12.30am.
Locals are invited to take a leisurely stroll through the award-winning Green Flag park, spotting birds and wildlife along the way.
Local experts and authors Christopher Moriarty and Michael Finn will guide the walk, which, suitable for all ages and abilities, will stick to pathways.
The meeting point is the urban farm at the council depot, behind Tallaght Stadium.
Next on the agenda is a two-hour looped waterways walk which, leaving from Sean Walsh Park at 10.30am on August 25, takes in the Balrothery Weir in Firhouse and the Old Bawn waterfall.
According to TCC: “This looped route is a hidden gem and will allow you to experience two of the best parks in Tallaght, an urban forest and a water course and weir that dates back to 1244 all on one walk.
“The full route is 10km and does include one off-road section from Bolbrook to Balrothery and is not suitable for anyone not comfortable walking on an informal tow path.”
The meeting point for the looped walk is the sensory garden in Sean Walsh Park.
Jampacked schedule of events
The two TCC events are part of a jampacked schedule of events, which promote and celebrate local heritage in a bid to encourage conservation and preservation.
Over 2,000 events are happening nationally, with a diverse and active list of activities planned for South Dublin County.
A staging of The Prodigal Daughter in Pearse Museum, an exhibition on Tallaght Motor Racing 1935 to 1948 in County Library and a free heritage exhibition in the Round Tower Visitor Centre are listed among local events.
South Dublin County Council has also organised a series of walks, which include areas such as Newcastle, Whitechurch, Rathfarnham Village and the Bohernabreena Reservoir, while the Friends of the Camac are leading a walk along the Clondalkin river.
For further details on the two TCC events email tallaghtperson [at] gmail [dot] com
Details on all South Dublin County events can be found at www.heritageweek.ie
