Horizons

Celebrating heritage: In an effort to create more public interest in Heritage Week, which starts tomorrow, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has publicised events locally through libraries, local authority offices and the regional press.

The annual Europe-wide celebration of our natural, built and cultural heritage encourages people of all ages to explore their local heritage through quizzes, lectures, exhibitions, family heritage days, workshops and free guided tours of castles, museums, wildlife reserves and woodlands.

Many historic buildings - including Kilkenny Castle; Parke's Castle, Co Leitrim; the Casino, Marino, Dublin; the State Apartments in Dublin Castle and the Swiss Cottage, Cahir, Co Tipperary will offer free guided tours tomorrow and next Sunday.

Drop into your local library or local authority office for full details of events in your area. See also www.heritageweek.ie or contact 1850-200878.

Merrion Square walks

The Irish Georgian Society, Number 29 Fitzwilliam Street and the Irish Architectural Archive have teamed up to provide a Merrion Square Open Day today. The days' events include a walking tour of this part of Georgian Dublin by historian and broadcaster, Pat Liddy at 3.15pm and an exploration of life in Merrion Square at Number 29 Fitzwilliam Street Lower at 2.15pm. Also visits to the historic buildings in the area including St Stephen's (Pepper Canister) Church, Mount Street Upper. Contact 01-7026165 for more details.

Walled towns ring out

An Irish branch of the international Walled Towns Network Group was formed in April. As part of Heritage Week, the 15 towns North and South will celebrate their involvement in this group with a bell-ringing ceremony tomorrow. Church bells will ring out in many of the towns at noon including Drogheda, Co Louth; Fethard, Co Tipperary; Galway City; Kilkenny City; Kilmallock, Co Limerick; Limerick City and Wexford town. The aim of the new group, which is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council, is to develop conservation and management plans for Ireland's walled towns.

Commemorating water

Riverside walks and talks, boat trips, talks on traditional boat building and tours of water treatment plants are among the events organised for Water Heritage Day on Saturday next. The aim of the day, which is also co-ordinated by the Heritage Council, is to highlight the importance of water as part of our heritage.

See www.heritagecouncil.ie or telephone 056-7770777 for more information.

Private houses open to public

Private historic houses, public buildings, monuments, churches and gardens in Northern Ireland will be open to the public free of charge on Saturday and Sunday next as part of the European Heritage Open Days. See www.ehsni.gov.uk for more details.

See www.heritagedays.net for details of heritage days in the UK and www.cnc.pt/jep for European events.