This article is from page 25 of the 2007-10-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
THE details of this year’s winter Cultural and Heritage Programme at Coole Park will be announced later today at a ceremony at the Coole Park Visitor Centre in Gort.
The Friends of Coole will host the official launch of the programme, which has been compiled in part- nership with the National Parks and Wildlife Services, Galway County Council, Galway Rural Develop- ment, Galway Education Centre and Failte Ireland West.
Each year the Coole Park Cultural Programme aims to provide a series of quality multi-disciplinary arts and
heritage events to as wide local au- dience as possible in a site that has national and international cultural Status.
This is the second cultural pro- gramme to take place in Coole this year following the highly success- ful spring programme earlier this year. Both the winter and spring programmes endeavour to showcase locally based artists and provide lec- tures on locally based topics.
The programme was initiated in 2005 on a pilot basis and it’s success to date is largely due to the strong partnership of agencies and active community involvement in its organ- isation, delivery and support.
This year’s winter programme will focus on integrating arts, culture and education with a series of events for adults, young people and families. Drama, heritage, music and poetry will feature in the new programme of events taking place between now Neem @isbuneettane
Coole Park is a nature reserve and former home of Lady Gregory. The park contains extensive woodlands and a series of turloughs with six kil- ometers of signposted nature trails plus a formal walled garden.
The walled garden contains an au- tograph tree that is engraved with initials of many of the leading fig- ures of the Irish Literary Revival
who were personal friends of Lady Gregory including William Butler Yeats, Edward Martyn, George Ber- nard Shaw, John Millington Synge and Sean O’Casey.
Coole Park is part of the Coole- Garryland Complex Special Area of Conservation and the whole of the park is designated a special protec- tion area for birds.
The winter Cultural and Heritage Programme 2007 will be launched today, Tuesday, October 23 at the Coole Park Visitor Centre in Gort at 3.30pm. Details of the winter pro- gramme brochure will be available at the ceremony later today. All are welcome to attend.