Time is of the essence for Kilkenny primary school students who wish to take a trip down memory lane and take part in the Fadó, Fadó Local History Competition.
The innovative project is being run by Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Kilkenny Library Services and Rothe House Trust.
The Junior Competition for 3rd and 4th Classes is based on the pupils researching an image taken of an item/place/person of historical interest. The Senior Competition for 5th and 6th Class pupils is for a history project based on a local topic. The winner of each category will win a €100 voucher and a trophy.
The organisers hope to spark an interest, enthusiasm and love of local history. For a county like Kilkenny, there are rich pickings when it comes to topics to choose from. ‘We have deliberately tied the competition in with the school curriculum, so teachers can cover part of the history programme,’ says Geraldine Tierney, Kilkenny Archaeological Society. ‘The range of subjects is endless,’ says Alicia Dunphy, Kilkenny Library, ‘from family stories to local buildings to events that took place in an area. Every locality is unique, and that’s what we are hoping to tap into.’
Kilkenny has a long tradition of recording local history, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century when the original Kilkenny Archaeological Society was founded. Historical novelist Ann Murtagh sees this initiative as a continuity of that tradition. Valerie O’ Sullivan from Rothe House Trust is familiar with children visiting Rothe House and is keen to discover what topics pupils will be drawn to in this competition.
Although the competition is geared towards schools, children are welcome to enter it from home once it has been signed by a parent.
Due to recent school cloSures following snow and the effects of storm Éowyn the closing date has been extended to 28th February 2025, and details of the competition can be found in the ‘News’ section of the Kilkenny Library Website and on the Kilkenny Library Facebook page.
