Walking
Through
History
The Heritage Keepers programme is not only about preserving history, but about experiencing it, sharing it, and bringing it to life through community engagement and a deeper connection with place. As part of that spirit of discovery, our project included a heritage field trip through Carrigaholt and its surrounding landscape, allowing people to step beyond the interpretive board and immerse themselves in the stories, traditions, archaeology, and folklore that shape this unique corner of West Clare.
Following the unveiling of our interpretive board, we took to the road for a fascinating guided walk led by local historian Robert Brown and archaeologist Dr Conn Herriott. What followed was far more than a walk. It became an afternoon of storytelling, conversation, memory, and discovery, as people exchanged local knowledge, asked questions, and explored the layers of heritage that surround Carrigaholt, from castles and batteries to wells, folklore, maritime history, and much more besides.
The community gathers at Carrigaholt Castle as a stop on our walk
Source: The Heritage Keepers
Carrigaholt has always been a place of stories, but on the day of our Heritage Keepers walk, those stories seemed to step out from the landscape itself. What made the afternoon so special was not simply the places we visited, but the conversations that unfolded naturally along the way. People stopped, listened, questioned, remembered, and shared. Local history blended effortlessly with personal memory as participants spoke not only about Carrigaholt’s heritage, but also about the traditions and folklore of their own native places. From cures and holy wells to fairy forts and hedge schools, from castles and Cromwell to shipwrecks and old maritime lore, there seemed to be no end to the knowledge, curiosity, and storytelling that filled the air. One moment we were discussing the strategic importance of the Battery and the history of the Clare Dragoons, the next we found ourselves exploring tales connected to Napoleon, the Okeanos shipwreck, and the dangerous waters surrounding the Shannon Estuary and Atlantic coast. It was history at its very best, alive, conversational, and shared among neighbours and new friends alike.
A huge part of what made the walk so memorable was the remarkable contribution of local historian Robert Brown. Robert possesses that rare gift of being able to summon fascinating facts, figures, stories, and connections seemingly at will, yet he shares them not to impress, but out of a genuine passion for this place and its people. He has an extraordinary ability to bring history alive, weaving together maritime history, local folklore, archaeology, and human stories in a way that makes the past feel immediate and relevant. His sense of place, generosity of spirit, and enthusiasm added immeasurably to the experience for everyone who attended.