Pembrokeshire County Council, together with partners Wexford County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Visit Wexford are working collaboratively on Ancient Connections, an exciting cross-border arts, heritage and sustainable tourism project funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales co-operation programme.

Ancient Connections is reviving and celebrating the ancient links between communities in North Pembrokeshire and Wexford, from the Stone Age through to Mediaeval pilgrimage, and more recent history such as the first manned flight across the Irish Sea in 1912. Many of the stories reveal strong links between these two Celtic lands, for example the long term friendship between St David, patron saint of Wales, who spent much of his life in St Davids, and his pupil and protégé St Aidan who is closely associated with Ferns in Wexford.

The project’s aim is to motivate both communities to rediscover their shared heritage; to be mentors for one another; sharing knowledge, experience and skills and building new friendships to create a stronger sense of identity and place that will continue to flourish in years to come. For the next three years, there will be a burst of creative activity in both regions including: commissioning of new artworks, revival of traditional skills, promoting pilgrimage in the modern world, archaeological digs, storytelling and gathering, live music and schools projects, as well as mentoring and support for businesses and community projects.