River Nore Teaching Resources
The Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council has developed 8 lesson plans, which will be useful for teachers of 4th/5th/6th class in primary school, on aspects of the River Nore's heritage.
They are designed to be used in conjunction with the "Explore the Nore" poster and River Nore Heritage Audit Reports which was produced as part of the River Nore Heritage Audit.
The lesson plans are particularly relevant to the Social Environmental & Scientific Education (SESE) curriculum.
The plans cover the following topics: The River Nore; Salmon; Nore Freshwater Pearl Mussel; Hedgerows; Ballyragget Castle; Threecastles Ringfort & Motte; Kilkenny's Mills; Rivernames.
This project is kindly supported by the Kilkenny Education Centre and the Heritage Council.
Lesson Plans
Note: When you click on an image below, it will appear as a larger image in a new window.
Lesson Plan 1 - The River Nore
To download lesson 1, click here
Lesson Plan 2 - Salmon
To download lesson 2, click here
The Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) hatch in the Nore river gravels and spend the first years of their lives feeding here before heading out to the Atlantic. Incredibly, after a year or more at sea they return to their birthplace to breed.
Lesson 3 - Nore Freshwater Pearl Mussel
To download lesson 3, click here
The Nore Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera durrovensis) is not found anywhere else in the world. They can live to over 100 years of age and are on the verge of extinction. Accordingly, they are strictly protected.
(Photo courtesy of Evelyn Moorkens)
Lesson 4 - Hedgerows
To download lesson 4, click here
The Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) is common in hedgerows on damp soils in the river valley. Many hedgerows in the area date back to the 18th century and were established as a result of the Enclosure Acts. Hedgerows are very important habitats for wildlife, especially birds.
Lesson 5 - Ballyragget Castle
To download lesson 5, click here
Ballyragget Castle is an example of a fortified residence from the 15th and 16th centuries. It, along with other tower houses, was deliberately sited to defend the important routeway of the River Nore.
Lesson 6 - Threecastles Ringfort & Motte
To download lesson 6, click here
From the 9th to the 12th century, the Irish lived in defended settlements called ringforts. This is a cropmark of a destroyed ringfort at Threecastles.
Lesson 7 - Kilkenny's Mills
To download lesson 7, click here
This view of the city from c.1819 shows the Castle and John's Bridge; Chancellor's Mills is on the right and Greensbridge Mill is on the left, in the foreground
(Photo courtesy of K.A.S Collection)
The weavers and spinners of Greenvale woollen mill in the 1920's. The mill was built by Ellen Countess of Desart in 1906 as part of Kilkenny's 'Industrial Revolution'.
The suspension bridge was built by Ellen Countess of Desart to link Talbotsinch village to the Greenvale woollen mills on the far bank. It was destroyed in the great flood of 1947. The footings of the bridge can still be seen today at Bishopsmeadows.
For Lesson 8 - Rivernames
To download lesson 8, click here
This project is supported by Kilkenny County Council, The Kilkenny Heritage Forum and Kilkenny Education Centre
