Treasure trail for tourists in Nenagh
A novel project focusing on buildings of architectural note has been launched to enhance the visitor experience in Nenagh.
The Nenagh Town Architectural Treasure Hunt provides a snapshot of the town's history wherein participants are invited to use a map and photographs to familarise themselves with Nenagh.
Available from Nenagh Castle or Heritage Centre, the map brings visitors on a walking route through town, taking in 17 noteworthy sights, among them the castle, heritage centre, Nenagh Courthouse, the old jail building and several shops. Participants in the hunt are asked to try and identify each building from the close-up photos provided. They can then collect an answer sheet from either the castle or heritage centre, where they will receive a descriptive brief history of each building.
The idea is based on a similar project undertaken in Clonmel. Julia Walsh, Education Officer at Tipperary County Museum, was involved in the successful 'Message in Time' exhibition in Clonmel, which featured some images of old buildings and streetscapes in Nenagh. She decided to devise an architectural trail for visitors to Nenagh.
Ms Walsh developed the idea with the Transition Year students of St Mary's Secondary School and their History teacher, Anne Marie Ryan. She also engaged Horse & Jockey based architect Paula Murphy, who spoke to the TY students about architecture in an informal way, and Nenagh Castle guide and walking tour leader Kevin Whelan, who related the town's history and folklore.
The students went out and took photographs of several buildings, including close-ups and overall shots. They made up an A3-sized map with grid squares and a detailed route for the hunters to follow. Launched last week, there are 2,000 copies of the map now available free of charge.
Hoping that it will attract more tourists to Nenagh, Ms Walsh points out that this educational project can also be used by schools and people in general looking to learn more about the town.
“My ethos is to get students thinking about the history and heritage of their area, and to highlight the rich heritage and architecture in their own town,” she said. “We're all so busy we often don't realise what's on our doorstep.”
Looking forward to feedback on the treasure hunt this summer, Ms Walsh said she hopes that similar project will be introduced in every town in Tipperary in the near future.