Offaly's Heritage Buildings Show attracted enthusiastic crowd in Birr

THERE was an air of 'festival' to a delightful event in Birr last weekend. Offaly's Heritage Buildings Show featuring the Traditional Building Skills stands, drew a steady and relaxed crowd, of broad generations, on each of the sunny days.

The settings too were ideal: within the heart of this heritage town on the two Georgian malls. Numerous attractive tented stalls were along the Horse Chestnut promenade of Oxmantown Mall, at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, and workshops for children were given within the striking Neo Classical structure of John's Hall, on John's Place.
Informative and fascinating talks were given at regular intervals within the fine, Tudor Revival theatre, by specialists in preservation. As indeed the experts in their fields of conservation, restoration and making, gave their advice freely, and cheerily demonstrated their practical knowledge, outside.
From the County Council's Chief Architect and author, Rachel McKenna, the subject of her talk was Traditional Vernacular Architecture of Offaly - understanding and conserving - from materials to furniture. The Importance of Preventative Maintenance & Dealing with Damp in your Traditionally Built House was given thorough coverage with some grim images by Frank Keohane, a notable Chartered Historic Building Surveyor.

Flocks and Rainbows: some historic wallpapers in County Offaly and how they were made, by the man who with his wife is a wallpaper maker, as well as conservator, researcher, author and expert, David Skinner. Vital information in this day and age, was given in a lively talk on Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings, planning applications and grants by the anything but dry Carl Raftery. She is the Architectural Advisor, National Built Heritage Service, and co-editor the Department's 'Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditonal Houses'.

The star to launch the whole show, architect Hugh Wallace, glided around in vibrant blue after his talk, to meet fans of his addictive RTÉ programmes. Indeed as an articulate fan of lime plastering on his TV shows, he was seen interviewing the boss of The OldBuilders Company, and others.
A triumphant cheer to all those engaged with setting up this whole show. It was in all aspects a superb, useful, helpful, engaging, charming and a gently inspiring and encouraging event!
Sponsors: The Irish Georgian Society and its Birr Chapter, in partnership with Offaly County Council, funded by The Heritage Council's Heritage Stewardship Fund and Offaly County Council Heritage Plan programme. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, etc. Cruinniú na nÓg workshops were funded by Offaly County Council libraries and Creative Ireland.