Another celebration of the European Year of Cultural Heritage will occur on August 24-25, when the "7 Septs of Laois Torch Rally" travels from North Kerry to Laois.

The following explanation of "What's this all about?" comes from the event brochure:

For many centuries before its plantation by the English, and its renaming as Queens County, Laois was under the control of the Seven Septs (Local Clan Families). Following many bloody battles, the surviving members of the families were transplanted to Kerry, being under sentence of death if returning to Laois. The Septs were established in Kerry as tenant farmers under their landlord, Patrick Crosbie. Descendants of these Sept families remain in Kerry down to the present day... To mark the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage, seven torches, representing the Seven Laois Septs will return to Laois, in cycle convoy, to light up a "ceremonial Sept Vessel" at a special Heritage gathering on the Rock of Dunamase.

The seven Laois Sept family surnames were Moore, Devoy (Deevy/Dee), Dowling, Doran, Kelly, Lalor and McEvoy.

A pageant, 1599 battle re-enactment, and heritage talk will follow the arrival of the cycles at Dunamase.

If it's too late for you to arrange travel to participate in the 7 Septs celebration, you can read more about the families in Michael Christopher Keane's book, From Laois to Kerry (CreateSpace, 2017). The book is positively reviewed and available for purchase at Amazon.