Events

About Donaghpatrick-Kilcoona Heritage Society

First established in 1988, under the umbrella of the Caherlistrane-Kilcoona Community Council, the Donaghpatrick Kilcoona Heritage Society was formed to help preserve and share the wonderful built, cultural and natural heritage of the area. Some of the society’s most notable contributions since then include the mammoth project of conserving the ruins of 13th century Abbeytown / Cill-na-Manach and the subsequent publication of The White Canon by Dr. Jim Higgins and Anna McHugh on the archaeological excavations, funerary monuments and local history of the locality.  In 1992 the society organised a ‘Burke Clan Gathering’ – an incredibly successful weekend event with Burke descendants coming all the way from the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, France, England and Ireland to attend.  To commemorate the 150th  Anniversary of the Great Famine, the society held an ecumenical service in Corner Chapel, including clergymen of several denominations, the Australian ambassador to Ireland, the British Attache, American government representatives and Irish government ministers. Also present were several members of the St. George family of Headford Castle who donated the site for Corner Chapel. The society also organized various interesting talks, most notably on the Famine by the late Professor Tom O’Neill. After a lapse of some years, the society was reformed on the 20th of April, 2018 at Castlehacket House. The members of the society, all local volunteers, have been busy since then, with the most notable achievement to date a series of lectures by eminent speakers, including Prof. Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Dr. Jim Higgins, Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Brian McGabhann, Dr Jessica Cooke and many others at various locations around the parish. The production of a heritage calendar in 2020 was another major accomplishment, one that helped showcase the vast richness of the area’s built heritage. The society has also been involved in the mapping of the graveyards – with Donaghpatrick and Kilcoona both completed and an information display board erected at the entrance to each. Abbeytown is in the process at present, and it is hoped to be completed soon. The society is currently undertaking several major projects including townland mapping, recording field names, as well as establishing a website under the Galway Community Heritage umbrella. Contact donaghpatrickkilcoonahs@gmail.com or our Facebook Page for more information.