Walled Town Day celebrates historic towns like Wexford that have or once had medieval town walls…
Saturday, August 17th marks Wexford’s Walled Town Day and the beginning of National Heritage Week.
Every year, the Heritage Council coordinates a series of events around the country promoting heritage awareness and education. In Wexford this year, these events include a pop-up library at the JFK Arboretum, tours of Selskar Abbey and Wexford’s Walled Town Medieval Day.
The Irish Walled Towns Network was established in 2005 and is an all-island collection of historic towns that once had medieval town walls. The aim of Walled Town Day is to encourage community engagement with town heritage and to put us in touch with our medieval past.
Wexford has a rich history as a medieval town. Originally founded by the Vikings in the 9th century, it was later the first town to be taken by the Anglo Normans when they invaded Ireland in 1169.
For this year’s celebrations, Wexford’s Walled Town Day will feature a free family event celebrating Wexford’s Historic Town Wall. The event will be held in the green area behind Westgate Tower from 12pm to 5pm.
Activities on this exciting day include guided walking tours of the town wall, weaponry and combat displays, jewellery making, face painting and falconry displays.
Two representatives of the Irish National Heritage Park, the heart of Wexford heritage, will be present at the event offering demonstrations. Tour guide Robert Laffan and master falconer Jim O’Connor are brimming with knowledge and passion for Wexford heritage. We had a chance to speak to these gentlemen about the upcoming festivities.
Robert: “Most medieval towns were walled; it just so happens that Wexford has part of it still standing. What happens is roads force people to dismantle most of the walls to give better access in and out of most towns. Most of the wall around Dublin has disappeared at this stage now as well.
One of the longest still standing is at Selskar Abbey. It’s that thirty-meter stretch. It’s one of the longest medieval stone walls still standing in Europe.”
Selskar Abbey is one of Wexford’s most historic sites. There will be a guided tour of Selskar Abbey on August 17th, starting at the Nicky Rackard statue on Trimmer’s Lane at 11am.
“A lot of people think it goes back to the Viking times but it’s a little later. It’s about 1230, I believe. So just after the Hook is established. It’s one of the oldest buildings still standing in Wexford town. It’d be nice if Wexford County Council made a museum space for it.”
Robert will be at Westgate for Wexford’s Walled Town Day demonstrating how coins were minted in Viking Dublin, showcasing a series of medieval weapons and giving talks on Wexford’s history as a walled town.
“Heritage Week is a great opportunity for the Irish National Heritage Park to showcase what we have. You get to meet people who aren’t familiar with the place. Maybe they’re in town for something else or they just want to have a look at the Viking reenactors. It’s a great opportunity for the Heritage Park to talk to the people about what we have and invite people out here.”
Jim, the Heritage Park’s resident falconer, will also be at Westgate on Saturday doing falconry demonstrations.
Jim: “I’ll be bringing a hawk, a falcon and an owl. I’ll be bringing in a young Peregrine which is the fastest creature in the world.”
Peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 389 km/h. That’s over three times faster than a cheetah!
“Falconry was carried out during medieval times. Falconry was a big thing during the Middle Ages. Birds were a prized possession so in order to keep a bird you’d have to be very rich. A bird favoured by the very rich would be a gyrfalcon from the Arctic. It was said the gyrfalcon was the hawk of kings because only kings could afford one.
I’ve been doing this for Heritage Week for a few years now. I’m looking forward to it. There’s always a good bit of a buzz in there.”
The Irish National Heritage Park will be having events of its own all throughout Heritage Week including weapons displays, guided tours and specialist talks. You will also be able to find Jim at the INHP’s very own falconry centre.
Luke Bradley
Luke is a student and a lover of all things Wexford. His favourite topics include Wexford history, entertainment and local events