New event added to the Heritage Week line-up in County Kildare

A new event has been added to the Heritage Week 2023 line-up in Kildare.

Reading a building: History of Ballitore Community Library and Museum and repair works to the Market House at Ballitore, will take place next week.

According to organisers: "Current grant funded works on the community library and museum in Ballitore started in July 2023.

"This was historically the home of Mary Leadbeater, an 18th century diarist and post mistress in Ballitore. 

"A library opened within the building in 1976 and is currently undergoing repair and re-rendering with a traditional hot lime."

They continued: "A talk will be given by Mario Corrigan, editor of the Annals of Ballitore, (a compilation of Mary Leadbeater Diaries that cover the events of 1798), giving an overview of the history and occupants of the building, with an introduction to the objects in the Museum on the upper floor.

UPDATE: SIPTU retained firefighters in Kildare to escalate strike action

"Laura Bowen, a Conservation Architect will then give a talk on the historic development of the Mary Leadbeater House in Ballitore including discoveries in the fabric which could inform approaches to the repair of this vernacular building.

"The building contractor Damian Condon of Calx Renders Ltd who is carrying out the works is using a traditional technique of a hot lime mortar.
 
"A demonstration will be provided in the Library Garden to show examples of these lime render techniques including limewashing. A hot-lime cake will also be prepared!

"The demonstration will then move to the centrally located market house within the Square which was renovated in 2007.

"It is proposed to demonstrate a lime repair to a previous lime rendered building and diagnose an issue of water ingress."

The talks, which are being provided in collaboration with the Heritage Unit of Kildare County Council, will commence at the community library and museum in Ballitore on Wednesday, August 16, at 10am and finish at approximately 12.30pm.

"The event will be of interest to those who would like greater insight into the appropriate repair and care of such traditional buildings," the organisers added.

In addition, there will be a family-friendly Canal Festival in Milltown on Sunday, August 20 from 11am to 5pm.

Spaces at both events will be limited and early booking is advised by emailing heritage@kildarecoco.ie.