Monday, February 25, 2013

Do you have an interest in the birds and bees and bugs and butterflies?

Would you be interested in being part of a survey in the Lismore area during 2013-2014? You will be able to do this in your own time i.e. during your daily or weekly walk.



This survey is being conducted in conjunction with the help of Biodiversity Ireland in Waterford. They are running a free workshop on using a new online system that they have developed to record your sightings.

The work you will be involved in will be part of the national statistics of local and national habitat. Your information will be used in this survey and will inform us on the numbers and habits of our local species.

If you are interested in participating in this survey please contact Sean on 0879776200 or Michael on 0861600642 before Friday 1st March

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Prodger, based on a true story


FORGOTTEN – For a long time, Irish veterans of World War I were largely forgotten.  But they didn’t forget the war.  Nor did others let them.  For some at least, it never went away.  

Set in a pub in Lismore, Waterford, in 1964, Tina Noonan’s powerful new one-act play, The Prodger, is a poignant re-imagining of the life of one such veteran, her great-uncle Johnny, who lost a leg in battle. Like many in his situation, Johnny met with prejudice when finally he returned home. He never married and suffered flashbacks all his life.

The Prodger sees Johnny and a friend head to the pub one wild winter’s night. Rumours of a local murder are circulating. As events unfold and the play moves rapidly towards its dramatic conclusion, stories are told and old secrets and wounds exposed.

Touching on themes of love, loss, friendship and regret, yet full of biting humour, The Prodger is a moving portrait of one veteran’s struggle to fit into his local community, decades after the war is over.  For Johnny at least, the devastation of war still lingers.


 The Prodger features a stellar cast of Irish acting talent: Seamus Moran, Brendan Conroy, Joe Moylan and Frank Melia.

In conjunction with Lismore Dramatic Society The Prodger comes to Lismore’s Courthouse Theatre on 9th and 10th March. Tickets are priced at €12 and can be bought from the Lismore Heritage Centre (058) 54 975 or Cahills, Flower & Gift Shop, Main Street, Lismore 

Brand Lismore winner to be announced this week


The people of Lismore have cast their votes, adjudication has taken place and this Friday, 22nd February, the winner of the ‘Brand Lismore’ competition will be announced in Lismore House Hotel.
Early this year 20 designs for a new logo for Lismore Heritage Town were shortlisted from submissions made by third level graphic design students from around Ireland. From 11th-17th February the projects were displayed in Lismore Castle Arts, St Carthage’s Hall and local people were asked to visit and vote for their favourite project. An adjudication panel nominated by Lismore Marketing Group, the instigators of the competition, then met and taking the ballot, along with other factors into consideration, selected a winner.
A €3000 prize will be awarded to the winning student and their college along with the considerable prestige of seeing their logo adopted and used as a single symbol to market Lismore and its many attractions. The prize will be presented in a ceremony on 6th May when the 400th anniversary of the granting of a charter to Lismore is celebrated.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Have a Blackwater Adventure this spring

Lismore is known for its castle, its history, its pretty streets and tasty tea shops. Oh but the times they are a changing and the Blackwater Adventure is adding thrills and spills to the beautiful west Waterford town this spring and summer.

At a special discounted price visitors to Lismore are dared to see the area from a whole new perspective. Take in the views of the Blackwater Valley as you kayak down the magnificent river with an experienced local guide to point out the wildlife and landmarks as you sail on by. The saddle of a bike is your next perch; pick up a bike, helmet and map from Lismore Cycling Holidays and go explore! Find a little spot to rest and enjoy the picnic lunch especially prepared and packed for you by the local hotel. It’s the stuff great holidays are made of!

All this is included in the great value price of €43 per person. Call Alice at Lismore Heritage Centre on 058 54975 and she will make all the arrangements for your chosen date

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Cast your vote in the Brand Lismore final

Exciting, fresh, innovative and imaginative were among the terms used to describe the 20 finalists battling to be chosen as the new brand for Lismore, Co Waterford.

The west Waterford heritage town invited graphic design students from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology to design a logo or brand to represent the ancient town and all its attractions. 20 of the submitted projects have now been shortlisted and are on display in St Carthage’s Hall in the town.

On Monday 11th February a special preview evening was held for local businesses. Mealla Fahey, a member of Lismore Marketing Group, the driving force behind the competition, said that the group was very pleased and encouraged by the turn out on the evening. “Buy in from businesses in the town and the local people is essential if this project is to be a success” The intention is, she explained, that the winning logo will be used as one brand to drive one unified marketing strategy for all the enterprises in the Lismore area.

With local support so vital to the project the people of Lismore are now called upon to help select a winner. The 20 shortlisted finalists are on display in St Carthage’s Hall, Chapel Street, Lismore from Monday 11th-Sunday 17th February from 10am-4pm each day. Admission is free and you cast a vote for your favourite by filling out a simple form.

Business people attending the preview evening were in agreement on one point; picking a winner is no easy task. The standard of the work is very high and all the projects have much to recommend them. The final decision will lie with an adjudication panel nominated by the Lismore Marketing Group and a winner will be announced on Friday 22nd February in Lismore House Hotel. The new brand will be officially launched on 6th May as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the granting of the charter to Lismore Town.

Monday, February 11, 2013

The Lismore School Tour Experience: bigger and better than ever

Lismore Heritage Centre is delighted to announce two new additions to its hugely popular School Tour Experience for 2013.

Prove to your pupils that sums can be fun with our Maths Trail. With rulers at the ready children turn themselves upside down to measure, estimate and count their way around Lismore’s Millennium Park. Working in teams the groups race to complete challenges and solve problems.

Equations cracked, pupils’ minds turn to times past as they search high and low to discover the secret tunnels, tombs, soldiers and saints that make up the long and colourful history of St Carthage’s Cathedral.

All the old school tour favourites remain available: the fairytale Towers Woodland Walk, Glove Puppet Making and the Robert Boyle Science Room. You can create a tour especially for your class by picking and choosing your favourite activities, old or new. All the options will be tailored to the pupils’ age from Junior Infants to sixth class.

To find out more or to secure your preferred tour date contact Alice on 058 54975 or email Adonoghue@lismoreheriatge.ie

Looking forward to Easter Camp in Lismore

The arrival of Ash Wednesday this week can only mean two things:


1. Fish for dinner

2. Just 5 weeks ‘till Easter Camp arrives at Lismore Heritage Centre



Lismore Heritage Centre will hold their Easter Camp Monday 25th-Thursday 28th March. Having camp before the big day means we can make great decorations, treats and toys to bring home for Easter weekend. Indeed rainbow science, white bunnies and magic hats are just the beginning of the arty, crafty, science-y fun and games we have in store for our fun filled week.



Camp is suitable for boys and girls attending primary school and runs from 10am-2pm each day. Campers can come along for one day for €15 or since each day is totally different they can come to all four for €50. They will need to bring along a drink, a healthy packed lunch and loads of energy for all the stuff they’ll be getting up to!



Spaces at camp are strictly limited to make sure everyone gets the attention they need so early booking is advised. Hop to it: call Arlene on 058 54975 or email Akenny@lismoreheritage.ie

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Businesses asked to preview Brand Lismore finalists

In 2012 Lismore Marketing Group asked third level graphic design students to create a logo or ‘brand’ to represent the heritage town. Now 20 potential winners have been chosen and representatives of local businesses and organisations are invited to preview the finalists on Monday 11th February in St Carthage’s Hall, Chapel Street at 6.30pm .




Kevin Santry of West Cork Development Partnership will speak briefly on the evening about the Fuchsia Brand and how it was established as an overarching logo for the West Cork region. This will be followed by an open discussion where everyone’s views and opinions on developing one brand and one unified marketing strategy for all the enterprises in the Lismore area will be welcome.



Without the support of local businesses this project cannot succeed and help Lismore to reach the wider visitor audience it deserves. Please take the time to come along to this short and informative event; your input is vital to its success.



A cheese and wine reception at 6.30pm is kindly sponsored by Lismore House Hotel. If you plan to attend the preview please RSVP to Mealla Fahey, Lismore Heritage Centre on 058 54975 by Friday 8th February.



The projects will remain on public display in St Carthage’s Hall from Tuesday 12th-Sunday 17th February from 10am-4pm each day. All locals and townspeople are urged to visit the exhibition and to select their preferred winner.