Local History for schools

We offer a number of workshops for schools based on the local heritage of Ardagh, and explore life in general in Ireland at these times.

Special Offer:  

Book Life in Early Ireland and Scéalta Beo workshops on the same day at Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre for €8 per person.

Life in Early Ireland
This workshop looks at the fort at the Back of the Hill and more generally at life in the Late Iron Age/Early Christian era. Lots of hands-on activities. Topics covered include buildings, crafts, food, plant uses, natural dyes, games and pastimes, Celtic festivals, Ogham, Brehon Laws and the importance of trees. Workshop lasts 1.5 hours, €5 per person.

Practical element options:
1. Weaving on an upright loom and simple cardboard weaving.
2. Clay: fort making, or pinch pots with Ogham inscriptions.
3. Natural fabric dyeing including foraging walk and science experiment: PH testing.

The fort at the Back of the Hill in Ardagh was excavated in 1967 by Liam de Paor and a number of important items were found including the body of a noble, a brooch and evidence of weaving, metalwork and other crafts of the day. The fort is believed to have once been home to King Máine, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages who ruled South Teffia from Ardagh. According to ancient texts he welcomed St. Patrick into the area. Archaeologist Adel Coleman has written up the results of the dig and continues to examine the findings.


Visual Arts: Strands: Fabric and Fibre; Clay
SESE History: Strand: Local Studies; Strand Units: Homes; Games and Pastimes in the Past; Feasts and Festivals in the Past; Strand: Early People and Ancient Societies; Strand Units: Celts, Early Christian Ireland; Vikings
SESE Geography: Strand: Natural Environments; Strand Unit: The local natural environment
SESE Science: Strand: Living Things; Strand Unit: Plants and Animals; Strand: Materials; Strand Units; Properties and Characteristics of Materials; Materials and Change

St. Mel's Cathedral, Ardagh, Co. Longford

Saints in Ardagh

St. Patrick left his nephew Mel in charge of the new church in Ardagh in the early days of Christianity in Ireland. From then until the 1100s Ardagh remained an important church site. Very little remains of what was once a large religious settlement, but it is possible to see the remains of St. Mel's Cathedral in the village. St. Brigid also has strong local connections, and it is said that St Mel ordained her as a bishop in Ardagh. This workshop explores the stories of the Saints in Ardagh and the Early Christian era in Ireland and includes a clay inlay workshop. Workshop lasts 1.5 hours, €5 per person.

Reliving history: Life 100 years ago workshop
This workshop looks at childhood in the 1910s, what life was like 100 years ago in the Big House and other dwellings in Ardagh and elsewhere in the country. Examine objects from homes of long ago, play some old games and watch some silent movies from the era.
All participants will get a chance to make their own art piece to take with them (options include printing, clay and fabric and fibre).
Workshop lasts 1.5 hours, €5 per person.