Supported under Open Call Strand 1: Community/Creative Collaboration,  Lough Gara: Past & Present is a series of workshops and demonstrations in collaboration with Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed, focusing on various heritage skills and practices associated with the material culture of local Lough Gara, where a vast array of artefact material has been recovered over the years, spanning from the Mesolithic to the present day.

All events will be documented in video and photography for a future documentary on the lake. The events will involve a number of local practitioners of heritage crafts, including Conor O'Connell, who will hold a  demonstration of casting a sword in bronze, identical to examples found at Lough Gara dating to the Bronze Age. A subsequent demonstration back at the workshop will involve making and finishing the handle in native hardwood. Artist Nollaig Molloy will hold a workshop involving sourcing, cleaning, and coil-pot building using clay dug from the lake shore, as well as a bronze casting workshop where members can carve their own molds and cast small implements.  Kate and Alan Burrows will host a workshop in basket weaving using locally sourced material. Patrick Strachan of ‘9 Irons Forge’ will provide a workshop in historic blacksmithing techniques using his ‘mobile forge’.  Simon and Maria O’Dwyer of Ancient Music Ireland to host a lecture/demonstration of musical instruments dating from the Neolithic to Early Medieval times.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.