On Tuesday 19th August 2025 participants in an end of summer Oriel Connects Us heritage event enjoyed a most informative and at times moving tour around Creggan graveyard, led by the renowned local historian Úna Walsh.
Úna is long associated with promoting awareness of Creggan graveyard as the last resting place of the major Oriel bard Art Mac Cumhthaigh. In her unique style, and armed with fascinating facts and anecdotes, Úna shared stories of poets and paupers, chieftains and clerics. She was accompanied by the talented fiddler Aodh MacMurchaidh who complemented the memorable experience with tunes of local significance.
The well-attended Mullaghbawn Village Walk followed on Tuesday 26th August and went ahead, hail, rain or shine. Eager participants were guided through the village again by Úna Walsh. Úna related stories about the shirt factory, the Georgian flax store, Belmont Barracks, the market stone, Church, Rectory and the Oriel poet and scribe Art Bennett. Her flax industry mini-presentation was arguably the highlight of the tour. Throughout the guided walk the participants engaged freely and readily joined in with their own points of information and their personal memories. B’shin clabhsúr le Clár an tSamhraidh de chuid na scéime ‘Oirialla a thugann sinn le chéile’.
Mar eolas: keep an eye on our social media page and the page for our International Fund For Ireland project partner Lislea Centre for details of upcoming activities.