Audio guide for east Mayo heritage trail to be launched

AN audio guide for the Kilmovee Heritage Trail is set to be launched in the coming weeks.

The good news was given to local councillors during an update by heritage officer Deirdre Cunningham on the draft heritage and biodiversity strategy for Co. Mayo.

The Kilmovee trail contains sites of international importance and an interpretive plan has been prepared for it. An educational programme is also being worked on to link in with tourism, schools and third-level institutions.

An audio guide is also being prepared and it will be launched in the coming weeks, she added.

In other heritage news, conservation works at Kill Abbey near Shrule are ongoing.

An arch at the site was in danger of collapsing, Ms. Cunningham told councillors at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting. However, funding was received to implement a conservation management plan, with work commencing last year and continuing.

The arch is being propped to retain it and keep the site safe.

A survey of holy wells in the county is also continuing. There were 150 known sites in the county and a few more have been identified.

Meanwhile, Old Irish Goats are being used for maintenance of vegetation in an old cemetery outside Claremorris. It is proving very successful and there are plans to replicate the scheme, with the Old Irish Goats Society, in other historic graveyards throughout the county.

On the business of the draft heritage/biodiversity strategy itself, the heritage forum has considered submissions received from the public and the plan will come before a full meeting of Mayo County Council before the end of the year for final approval.