NATIONAL DAWN CHORUS DAY: Is this Sunday 20th May, at 4.30am with the Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club leading the Annual Dawn Chorus Day at the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford. The Dawn Chorus is FREE, though there will be a charge for breakfast for those that wish to avail of this social occasion. There is ample car parking so why not join Don Conroy, Alan McGuire and Chris Wilson and enjoy this ‘SPECIAL’ ANNUAL SPRING EVENT.

What is the Dawn Chorus? It is collective sound of all the birds that sing at dawn. It usually refers to those sounds made by birds that sing during the breeding season, which for most birds in Ireland is between late March and the beginning of July. The dawn chorus is usually associated with woodland birds but it can be heard everywhere. Each habitat has its own distinctive “chorus members”.

NINETY-THREE students attending St. Kevin’s Community College made their down to Wexford and the National Heritage Park on a fact-finding mission.

The visiting students from the Dunlavin school were split into two groups and brought back in time as they learnt what it would have been like living in Ireland from the Stone Age right up to the Middle Ages.

The park’s expert guides brought the students around on a tour of Mesolithic huts and Iron Age ring fort dwellings. They were even afforded the opportunity to sit in a Viking longship.

Meanwhile Emma Mccarthy deserves some congratulations after recently representing Ireland in an equestrian endurance event held over in Wales. The 5th year student from St. Kevin’s was part of the Irish team who acquitted themselves so well while competing with other teams from all over the UK.

Source www.braypeople.ie

The Irish National Heritage Park is delighted to offer a two-day bow-making course with renowned bow-maker Mike Hanrahan.   Mike is probably the foremost authority on traditional bow-making and archery in Ireland.   He is passionate about his craft and deeply knowledgeable about techniques and traditions worldwide.   This promises to be a fascinating rediscovery of what was once a live-or-die skill for our ancestors

Over the course of two days in the incredible setting of the Irish National Heritage Park you will learn about the art of the bow-maker and the use of bows in hunting and warfare.  First and foremost, however, this is a practical hands-on course.   You will learn to shape and form traditional bows, to make string from natural raw materials and to make, point and fletch arrows.   All materials and equipment will be provided but if you wish to bring any of your own tools, all that you will need is a rasp, a pocket-knife and a small plane.  At the end of the course, you will leave with your own bow that you have made yourself!

This course is aimed primarily at adults, but older children (from 14yrs) are welcome to attend with a parent.  The day begins at 10.00 and continues to 16.00 with breaks for lunch.  Full restaurant facilities are available on-site

This is an intensive course and no more than six places are available.  We are keeping numbers small to ensure that everyone receives the one-on-one attention they need.

 12-13 May  Fully Booked

 The Second Bow Making Course will take place on 9th -10th June 2012

Book soon to avoid disappointment!

For more details on courses and events visit our events section or Tel: 053 9120733

International Phone: +353 53 9120733

Fax: +353 53 9120911

E-mail: info@inhp.com

Web: www.inhp.com

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Mini BioBlitz at The Irish National Heritage Park, Wexford

Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club will hold a wildlife recording bioblitz on Saturday 12^th May, between 10am and 4pm, at the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford. The club hopes to record as many species as possible, in and adjacent to the grounds of the Park. Weather permitting, there will be a number of Wildlife Walks and Pond Dipping sessions taking place during the course of the day. Normal admission fees to the Park apply, entrance to the Shop and Restaurant are free. Suitable for Adults and Children, all are very much welcome to come and share in the day. WNFC members should bring their Membership Card for free entry to assist with the BioBlitz and to avail of a reduced fee for a guided tour of the Park.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

10am Opening of Moth Traps

11am Butterfly and Bumblebee Walk

11am-12noon River Birdwatch

12.30pm Tree Walk

1.30pm Pond Dipping

2.30pm Dragonfly and Damselfly Walk

4.30pm Results

For more information on upcoming events visit our events section or Join us on Facebook

All cattle are descended from as few as 80 animals that were domesticated from wild ox in the Near East some 10,500 years ago, according to a new genetic study.

An international team of scientists from the CNRS and National Museum of Natural History in France, the University of Mainz in Germany, and UCL in the UK were able to conduct the study by first extracting DNA from the bones of domestic cattle excavated in Iranian archaeological sites. These sites date to not long after the invention of farming and are in the region where cattle were first domesticated.

The team examined how small differences in the DNA sequences of those ancient cattle, as well as cattle living today, could have arisen given different population histories. Using computer simulations they found that the DNA differences could only have arisen if a small number of animals, approximately 80, were domesticated from wild ox (aurochs).

The study is published in the current issue of the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2012)

Visit The Irish National Heritage Park this Sunday 22nd April and Come-Face-to Face – with one of Nature’s Top predators. From 2.30pm to 4pm Sunday 22nd April meet our expert falconer, Jim O’ Connor and one of his hawks on the Crannog.

General admissions to The Park apply. Visit our Visitor Info section for Opening Times and Prices  

The Irish National Heritage Park Ferrycarrig, County Wexford, Ireland.

Tel: 053 9120733 International Phone: +353 53 9120733

E-mail: info@inhp.com 

Web: www.inhp.com

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The Church in the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig is getting a brand new look as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Park.

The old stone roof, which was leaking heavily, is being replaced with a magnificent new roof of thick oak shingles.

The work is being carried out by the well-known Wexford firm O’Rourke’s of Castlebridge, with traditional craftsman Brendan McGarry leading the team on the roof.

This type of roof would have been very common on Irish churches one thousand years ago, and with its heavy oak barge-boards, crossed at the top, it makes a dramatic sight   for any visitor to the Park.

“Our friends at Butser Ancient Farm in the UK   recently supplied us with a small but precious selection of ancient grains, of types used by Stone Age farmers here in Ireland some 6,000 years ago.  We have two types of wheat – emmer and einkorn – and one type of barley called bere barley.  Einkorn (triticum monococcum) is the oldest known cultivated wheat and was first grown in the near East about 12,000 years ago.  Emmer (triticum diococcum) is a more refined variety which appeared about two thousand years later. Bere Barley (hordeum vulgare) dates to around the same time as Emmer and is the oldest cultivated barley in the world.

We have planted all three varieties in the little field beside our Neolithic house and will be watching carefully over the next few weeks and months in the hopes that we can raise a successful crop.  Anyone visiting the Park between now and September has an unequalled opportunity to really experience what a stone age farmstead must have been like in the Ireland of 6000 years ago, with our fantastic new stone age house, and with ancient cereals now growing outside its door.

Watch this space and we’ll keep you posted on how our crop is doing! Have a look at the Butser Farm site too – butser.org.uk”

A Two-day Bush Craft Skills course for 15-17 year olds is taking place over the Easter Break from 10-11th April at The Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford. Children attending this Easter Bush Craft course will learn Camp craft, safety, Knife use and safety, Tree identification and uses. Fire lighting ( Level One), Water purification and Flint Knapping. There are only a few places left on next weeks course so Book Now by contacting our reservations desk on 053 9120733. Full details on course content can be found below or visit our events section for full list of upcoming events.

10^th + 11^th April 15-17yr olds [2 day]

9.30-5.30pm [Level One] Bush Craft

Course Content

• Camp craft, safety, Knife use and safety, Tree identification and uses.
• Fire lighting ( Level One), Water purification, Flint Knapping

What you will need?

• Wet gear, Wellington boots, Hat
• Personal medication, eg. Asthma inhaler
• Track suit bottoms,  No Jeans,
• Hiking boots [ or footwear with ankle support]
• Jumper/hoodie, Fleece top, Hand towel,
• Note book, Pencil.
• Bring your own Lunch

Price:€130

** PRE BOOKING ESSENTIAL ***BOOK TODAY

Tel: 053 9120733

International Phone: +353 53 9120733

E-mail: info@inhp.com

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We are delighted to announce that the Irish National Heritage Park has been nominated for The 2012 Irish Restaurant Awards.

The Fulacht Fiadh Restaurant at The Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, Wexford has been nominated in two categories Best “Customer Service” in your County and Best “Casual Dining” in your County.

The awards process is a detailed and thorough process whereby nominated Restaurants face rigorous scrutiny from the Consumer, Regional Judges, a Mystery Guest Visitor and finally the National Awards Academy.

The Leinster County Winners will be announce at the Restaurants Association of Ireland AGM which takes place on Monday 16th April 2012 at The Westin Hotel, Westmorland Street, Dublin 2.

If you would like to check out a sample menu from the Fulacht Fiadh Restaurant visit www.inhp.com