 On Saturday 30th July – Monday 1st August enjoy a fun packed weekend at the Navan Centre & Fort as the Centre hosts its annual living history Summer festival : Traditions to Touch and Taste. In only its second year the event promises a bumper packed schedule which will certainly make a great day out for all the family! Food and Crafts A walk through the food marquee will bring the smells and tastes of yesteryear to life as we have foods, vegetables, and beverages to tempt your tastebuds. Everything from locally grown fruit and veg, chic boozeberries to add to your drinks and home reared pork and beef will be there for you to sample and purchase. Start thinking about your Christmas presents and have a browse through the craft stalls with amazing gifts to suit all pockets. Traditional Skills Enjoy demonstrations of some traditional crafts like pottery, stone carving, wood turning and basket weaving. These have in recent years made a comeback but dying arts like blacksmithing and thatching [Sat & Sun only] will also be demonstrated. The Beasts and the Bees One of the highlights of the event last year was the show of rare breed animals and this year sees the return of the long horn cows, saddleback pigs and Jacob sheep. In addition we also have a display of bees and bee keeping, [Sat & Sun only] this is your opportunity to get up close to bees without the fear of getting stung! Vintage Vehicles Today many farms have very expensive, high tech tractors and machinery with names as grand as Lamborghini we take a step back to the more sedate years of farming with a display of vintage farm machinery. The event will also include demonstrations of dog training so if you are sitting watching your dog chewing the furniture, not walking on the lead or barking at the postman come along and get some ideas from local dog behaviouralist, Peter Houlahan. In association with the CuChulainns Hurling Club we are showing the skills involved in the game of hurling see how to play with a hurl and sliother. Burning of the Wickerman The event is designed to celebrate the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh and so our living history department will re-enact Celtic life in the Iron Age dwelling with cookery, weaving, bread making and story telling on the schedule. One of the traditions would have been the ceremonial burning of a Wickerman, this ceremony will happen at Navan on the afternoon of Monday 1st August. These are just the highlights of the event, come along and enjoy all the fun and celebrate Lughnasagh with the characters at the Navan Centre & Fort. The Centre is open daily from 10.00am – 7.00pm and the event is available from 11.00am – 6.00pm. With admission just £20.00 for a family, £5.00 for children, £6.00 for adults and £5.00 for senior citizens a visit to Navan is a worthwhile experience. For further information contact Navan Centre & Fort, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh. BT60 4LD. Tel 028 3752 9644 or visit www.navan.com to download a brochure. |
