Ancient
Connections

Hidden Histories, Buried Stories,
Connected Communities

Fáilte, Croeso, Welcome – Ancient Connections (2019 to 2023) was funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales co-operation programme and led by Pembrokeshire County Council, together with partners Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford.

Over four years, the Ancient Connection programme created new links between North Wexford and North Pembrokeshire for the benefit of communities, the arts, heritage, trade and tourism.

Many artists, businesses, communities, and organisations were commissioned under the umbrella of Ancient Connections. An exciting range of outcomes were delivered from new events and festivals, novel works of art, films, music, poetry, books, theatre. A wide range of training schemes were delivered including ‘traditional skills’, ’tourism ambassadors’, ‘festival marketing’,  ‘history hunters’ and ‘business innovation’. Alongside this, the project supported businesses to develop new tourism products, designed and installed new interpretation, undertook multiple archaeological excavations and created a new pilgrim route The Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way….all in the name of sharing, celebrating and welcoming new visitors from across the seas.

To see the many outcomes and to view Ancient Connection’s digital assets, visit the Project Library:

Project
Library

Ancient Connections has run or supported numerous projects in both Wexford and Pembrokeshire. Projects cover a wide range of themes from Heritage, Arts and Music, Research, Pilgrimage and Community.

Ancient Connections Stories

Mermaids Ahoy!

Folklore is tantalising. Around the coast of Wales and indeed the British Isles, stories, themes and fantastical creatures appear time and time again. I’m a storyteller, so I’m not going to venture into the debate about whether or not these creatures are or were ever ‘real’. For me, they are alive in our storied imagination, in our landscape and in the shallows and depths off our coast.

News Archive

As Ancient Connections draws to a close after four years of events and activity in Pembrokeshire and Wexford, join us to view some of the wonderful films that have emerged from the project on the big screen.

Join us as we celebrate Fern's medieval heritage through Fuinseog Woodland Crafts, customized guides, Battle re-enactments, Archaeological excavations, Camps for kids and loads more!

Join us to celebrate the launch of Holy Wells of Wexford and Pembrokeshire, a trilingual series of chapbooks commissioned by Ancient Connections and published by Parthian.

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