The Market House in Clonmany recently played host to a hugely successful National Heritage Week event, organised by the Clonmany Genealogy & Heritage Group.
The weekend event featured a large selection of attractions including an exhibition of old artefacts and photographs, demonstrations of traditional crafts, performances featuring traditional dance and music, and workshops on Family Tree and DNA research.
The photograph display being prepared for the exhibition.
A mainstay of the Clonmany Group’s presentations in the past has been exhibitions showcasing many old objects, documents and photos donated by local people, and this exhibition was no exception.
Many of the objects on show had not been on display before, including a wedding dress, in perfect condition, from the 1800s, Steamer Trunks (used to carry emigrants’ belongings on Steamer Ships), Tilly Lamps and a collection of items from a 19th century forge, including a bellows, anvil, tongs and hammers.
A 19th century wedding dress.
A 19th century bellows, anvil and tools from an old forge.
Another popular aspect of the Clonmany Group’s events are the Family Tree and DNA research workshops. Hosted by expert researchers, these workshops have helped people delve into their past and track down ancestors and long forgotten family members.
Expanding on previous workshops, researchers specialising in American and Scottish records were able to trace local people who left these shores well over a hundred years ago, to make new lives far away from family and friends, many of whom never returned. Quite a few of the searches continued after the exhibition ended, with the group’s genealogy team assisting family researchers online.
Mary and friends enjoying the exhibition of lace making.
The next generation try their hands at churning and making butter.
A new feature of this year’s Heritage Week event was the many interactive demonstrations of traditional skills and crafts. A great large number of crafts were on show, including Butter Making, Jam Making, Baking, Knitting, Quilting, Crocheting, Lace Making, Embroidery, Linen Making and Wool Spinning.
People could be seen spinning wool in one corner, while children were churning and butter making in another. A very popular demonstration featured a local expert spinning wool on his spinning wheel before passing the wool over to one of the knitters, who immediately began to knit a woollen hat.
Getting a few tips on wool spinning.
Margaret and some of the knitwear on show.
Tracey McRory, an All-Ireland Fiddle Champion and Harpist, accompanied by a number of young performers, entertained the attendance with beautiful traditional music. Laura Ganley, a champion Seán Nós / Old Style dancer gave a wonderful demonstration of the art. Other dance demonstrations were provided by Emily Peart and the Sollus Highland Dancers from Co. Tyrone, and the Valerie Harkins School of Dance.
Performers from the Embrace Cross Border Cultural Collaboration.
The Clonmany Genealogy & Heritage Group said they were delighted by another hugely successful event. They are particularly pleased by the number of families with young children who attended both days of the exhibition and demonstrations, with so many of the children willing to participate in the activities.
Group Chairperson, Kathleen Graham, also noted the many visitors who attended the event, with people from all over the North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and the USA present at the exhibition and many of the demonstrations.
Ann looking after the traditional churning and butter making.
Geraldine and Carmel, from the Quilting Group, show off a selection of the beautiful quilts.
The feedback from the event has been very positive, with many messages of congratulations and support being posted online. All of which provides encouragement for future projects, and the Clonmany Group is already planning another event for the springtime, details of which will be published shortly.
Finally, the Clonmany Genealogy & Heritage Group would like to thank everyone who supported the Heritage Week event in any way, including everyone who donated to the exhibition, all those who provided demonstrations of craft skills, music and dance; those who facilitated workshops; the Market House management team and everyone who attended the event.
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