Horizons

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has designated today National Whalewatch Day. In a bid to set up an annual event, the group welcomes all wildlife enthusiasts, botanists, local historians and archaeologists to bring along their experience and their optics to help with watching and fielding questions.

The venues where members of the public can go to catch a glimpse of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. today are as follows: the Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork (meeting point at the Kinsale golf course gates); Loop Head, Co Clare (meeting point at the lighthouse gates); Kilcummin Head, Co Mayo (meeting point in the car park); Ramore Head, Co Antrim (meeting point at the Portrush Countryside Centre, at 10 a.m.); Clogher Head on the Dingle Peninsula, and Howth Head, Co Dublin (meeting point in the Balscadden car park).

Check http//iwdg.ucc.ie for local contact phone numbers. The recent presence of three orca in Cork harbour drew so much interest from the public that the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is interested in establishing local whale-watch groups.

If you wish to join, contact Padraig Whooley on 021-4897312. Also, in a note for your diary, there is a talk and slide show, Whale-watching - Irish-style, on Thursday, August 16th at 8 p.m. in the Education Centre, Glendalough National Park, Glendalough, Co Wicklow. Contact 0404-45656 for more details.

The Heritage Council has just published its strategic plan for the next five years - and there is not a mention of the proposed move to the former Church of Ireland Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny.

We can only assume this issue is deemed more of a housekeeping matter - and we'll hear more about it once refurbishment plans are in place.

Meanwhile, the Heritage Council has identified six "key performance areas" between now and 2005. These are: to contribute to the development of a comprehensive heritage database; to advise the Minister for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on national-heritage issues; to influence public policy; to support local authorities in their inclusion of heritage matters in activities (12 heritage officers are in place and the Heritage Council aims to have all 34 in county councils and county boroughs by the end of 2003); to raise awareness and appreciation of our heritage; and, finally and perhaps most importantly, to establish and promote best-practice standards for heritage conservation and management.

See also www.heritagecouncil.ie.

If you are visiting the National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin over the summer holidays, stop by at the exhibition of Swedish design.

A showcase of contemporary creations, the show includes 85 everyday objects designed by more than 50 teams. The items of furniture, fashion, textile and industrial design are displayed alongside the packaging and cases used for transportation.

Collins Barracks is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The exhibition continues until September 9th.