One of the largest outdoor events taking place this year as part of Ireland 2016, Farming and Country Life 1916 offers an opportunity to experience life as it was in rural Ireland a hundred years ago.
The event, which takes place over two days this weekend (Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June) in the historic Mellows Campus in Teagasc, Athenry, County Galway includes exhibitions, re-enactments, lectures and demonstrations, and will host a range of livestock breeds of the time. The event will offer an invaluable insight into how communities lived and worked in rural Ireland in 1916, with something for all ages and interests; urban and rural, young and old.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, who will attend the event on Saturday, commented: “This is the largest Ireland 2016 event to take place outside Dublin so far this year, with tens of thousands of people expected to visit Athenry over the weekend. Visitors will be brought back in time to the rural Ireland of 1916, giving them the opportunity to explore what life was like 100 years ago. While the events of Easter 1916 were focussed on Dublin, their repercussions were felt right across the country. Communities nationwide have been exploring their past throughout 2016, and this ambitious Teagasc event will shed light on how people in rural Ireland lived in 1916 through a range of vibrant re-enactments, performances, discussions and debates.”
Highlights of the event include
- Several event stages with live music and theatre performances
- A life-size replica of the GPO featuring interactive displays and re-enactments
- Artisan village with craft and food demonstrations
- Panel discussions, debates and lectures relating to rural life and farming
- Livestock and farm machinery from 1916 display including steam powered machinery
Director of Teagasc, Prof. Gerry Boyle said, “Farming and Country Life 1916 will explore many of the themes that have shaped modern Ireland such as the land revolution, sport and culture, the role of women, the mechanisation of farming and the production of food. There has been an enormous amount of goodwill towards this project and I want to acknowledge the deep spirit of cooperation that I have witnessed during the preparations for this event. I invite everyone from across Ireland to join us for this national celebration.”
Farming and Country Life 1916 is an initiative of Teagasc, as part of Ireland 2016, and is presented in partnership with Galway County Council and supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
A major Garda traffic management plan has been developed for the two days of the event. Visitors are encouraged to avail of public transport where possible, with a free bus shuttle service operating between Athenry Train Station and the event.
Full details are available at www.ireland.ie and www.teagasc.ie /1916