On Schedule

The Dry Stone Walling Association of Canada (Dry Stone Canada) is in full preparation mode for the 2015 Dry Stone Festival. 

The event will take place from September 25 - 27th on Amherst Island in Lake Ontario 30 km west of Kingston Ontario

This year they are collaborating with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Ireland to celebrate and commemorate Canada’s rich Irish cultural heritage. 

Amherst Island has one of Canada’s largest concentration of historic dry stone walls, some close to 200 years old, most built by original settlers from Ireland. Efforts are underway to have the site designated as a National Historic Site due to the significance of these cultural heritage structures. 

There will be a 2-day workshop on dry stone wall construction featuring various Irish dry stone wall techniques that will be incorporated into one permanent new wall. The finished wall will include a time capsule installed by the Ambassador to Canada from Ireland, Ambassador Ray Bassett. 


This event is completely open to the public. 

Dry Stone Canada’s Irish-Canadian Dry Stone Festival 2015 Public Activities Schedule

A shuttle bus will provide transport on Amherst Island to the various venues. 

Friday, September 25th

Neilson Store Museum & Cultural Centre at 5220 Front Road

    1pm to 4 pm – Museum open and guided walking tours of historic Village of Stella available 

Amherst Island Public School at 5955 Front Road

    1pm to 4 pm - Display Area open

Emerald Music Festival Site at 12675 Front Road

    Music Featuring: 

    5 pm – 6:45 pm  - Seventh Town 

    7 pm – 8:45 pm  - O’Schraves

    9 pm – 10:30pm - Cyril & Blackie 

Saturday, September 26th 


Amherst Island Public School at 5955 Front Road

    10 am – 4 pm  - Stone Carving, Children’s Potato Walling Workshop, and traditional music demonstrations 

    10 am – 4 pm – Display Area open


Neilson Store Museum & Cultural Centre at 5220 Front Road

    10 am to 4 pm – Museum open and guided walking tours of historic Village of Stella available 

Reidview Farm at 10850 Front Road

    11 am – 4 pm – Harvest Festival 


Emerald Music Festival Site at 12675 Front Road

    Music & Dancing featuring

    10am – Noon - Mark McGreevy  

    Noon – 12:30 - Kelly School of Irish Dance 

    12:30 – 2:20 - Seventh Town 

    2:30 – 4:30 - Turpin’s Trail 

    7pm – 9pm  - O’Schraves  

    9:20pm – 10:30pm - Cyril & Blackie  

Irish Walling Construction Site  - Located Across Road from School at 5955 Front Road

    9 am – 4pm – Dry Stone Walling Construction

    5 pm  Irish piping of dignitaries to the Irish Sampler Wall.  

               Welcome Remarks and Introduction by President of Dry Stone Canada.  

               Irish Ambassador to install a Time Capsule, 

               Jane Urquhart to lay a carved stone

               President of Amherst Island Women’s Institute to lay stone from Ards Peninsula.

 

Sunday, September 27th


Amherst Island Public School at 5955 Front Road

    10 am – 3 pm – Stone Carving & Children’s Workshop & traditional music demonstrations

    10 am – 3 pm – Display Area open

Neilson Store Museum & Cultural Centre at 5220 Front Road

    10 am - 3 pm – Museum open and guided walking tours of historic Village of Stella available

Emerald Music Festival Site at 12675 Front Road

    Music Featuring

    Noon – 1:45pm -Turpin’s Trail

    2:15pm – 3:45pm  - O’Schraves

 Irish Walling Construction Site  - Located Across Road from School at 5955 Front Road

    9 am – 5pm - Dry Stone Walling construction

    6:05 pm - Presidents of Dry Stone Canada and Dry Stone Walling Association of Ireland lay carved stone

    6:45 pm - Sunset event will take place

 Traditional music will be played by members of the O’Schraves to recognize the closing of this event.