Waterford prepares to explore its foundations for Heritage Week

Preparations are well under way in Waterford ahead of this year's national Heritage Week which will have the theme of 'Exploring our Foundations'.

Heritage Week runs from Saturday, August 16 until Sunday, August 24 and will offer up a fascinating range of events for all ages and interests across Waterford city and county.

Commenting on this year's theme, a spokesperson for Waterford City & County Council said it will encourage people to delve into the building blocks of our heritage; not just the structures, but the landscapes and cultural activities that have shaped us.

In Waterford, Heritage Week kicks off this weekend with Áonach na nDéise - Woodstown Viking Festival at the Waterford Greenway.

This signature event of Waterford’s Heritage Week Programme, supported by Waterford City and County Council, is now in its eight year.

Highlighting the nature of the event the spokesperson said: "The free, family-friendly event draws great crowds every year for those who want to enjoy vigorous Viking fighting in battle re-enactments and explore the range of crafts in the Viking Village from blacksmithing to spinning and weaving, jewellery making and leatherworking, to pottery and woodturning."

"There’ll be Viking games and storytelling for children, along with the outreach education team from the National Museum of Ireland and TVAS Archaeologists with their Dig in a Box for the aspiring Indiana Joneses," she said.

The Discovery Programme will also have a display explaining very exciting findings from three years of geophysical surveys from the site.

A Viking Boat, Birds of Prey Display and Irish Wolfhounds are always very popular with attendees and there will also be plenty of food trucks and green spaces available on site, making it an ideal picnic spot.

The great Viking spectacle takes place from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, August 16 and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, August 17.

The event will be accessible by walking/cycling (10 minutes) from Carriganore Car Park along the Greenway (adjacent to X91 XD96) turning left on crossing N25 flyover.

You can check out all the fantastic events taking place in Waterford during National Heritage Week at https://www.heritageweek.ie/event-listings