Minister Lenihan launches innovative audio heritage guide to the rocks of Dublin City
If stones could talk, what would they say? Well, now it might just be possible to find out! Wednesday morning in Dublin’s city centre, Minister for Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan, launched “Dublin on the Rocks”, a new audio (podcast) guide that takes people on a fascinating walking tour through the streets of Dublin to “hear what’s written in stone.”
According to Minister Lenihan,
“this innovative podcast product will enhance public awareness of the building stones, geology and architecture all around us here in Dublin’s city centre.
It’s packed with fascinating stories and I am sure that it will encourage people to look at Dublin streets with a fresh eye. As well as being an excellent addition to Dublin’s tourism offering it is clearly also a valuable new educational tool.
I am delighted that one of my divisions, the Geological Survey of Ireland, is a proud sponsor of this fine product.
The audio guide takes visitors on an absorbing journey to the furthest corners of the globe, and back in time hundreds of millions of years – and all just by walking the city streets and looking at some stones. It uncovers the beguiling stories behind cobblestones and paving stones, copper domes and roof tiles, bricks and mortar. The walker will be encouraged to examine the very fabric of the city, and explore textures, colours and fossils (including Jurassic creatures!).
The podcast originator and presenter is Mary Mulvihill who has over 20 years experience as a science communicator and broadcaster. Ingenious Ireland, her major book on Ireland’s rich scientific heritage, won a number of awards. “Dublin on the Rocks” is one of a suite of ‘ingenious’ podcast tours on a range of themes she is currently developing and comes hot on the heels of her audio guide to Trinity College Dublin – the TCD Science Safari. The Heritage Council has also funded this product.
The Minister concluded:
“I am particularly delighted to be associated with the product given that it is such an environmentally friendly product, providing information in a sustainable digital format, with a long shelf-life and a broad audience reach.
I believe it is also fitting that I should be launching this new and innovative heritage tourism project in what is fast becoming a world renowned celebration of our nation’s heritage – Heritage Week”.
· The route for this 90 minute walking tour starts in Dublin’s oldest mediaeval and cathedral quarter, moving down Dame Street and Temple Bar, to Merrion Square and St Stephen’s Green and environs.
· The podcast will be available online at http://www.ingeniousireland.ie/ and http://www.visitdublin.com/ for a download fee of €5
· The project will also have a widely distributed leaflet
· The project will expect inclusion in the City of Science 2012 festival programme
