National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday, August 19 to Sunday, August 27, 2017 and is coordinated by The Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers. The County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council has compiled the County Donegal 'Heritage Week' Event Guide which is a free, pocket-size booklet that outlines 124 Heritage Week events taking place across County Donegal and most of them are free. The County Donegal Heritage Week Event Guide will be launched in the County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny on Tuesday, August 8 at 12 noon. Event organisers can collect their copies of the County Donegal 'Heritage Week' Event Guide at the launch. Everyone is welcome to attend and light refreshments will be served.
The aims of Heritage Week are to raise awareness of our heritage and to encourage its preservation, conservation and promotion. County Donegal is the county with the most events taking place per head of population and Cultural Services, Donegal County Council has organised, or is hosting over 20 of the record 124 ‘Heritage Week’ events planned in County Donegal. Events include heritage open days, guided walks, fieldtrips, exhibitions, conferences, illustrated talks, historical re-enactments, birds of prey displays, whale watching, garden tours, traditional skills demonstrations, craft fairs, skills training, launch events, storytelling, traditional music and children’s activities.
“People from heritage organisations, community groups, museums, heritage centres and Cultural Services, Donegal County Council have come together again this year to produce a great Heritage Week events programme in County Donegal” said Joseph Gallagher, Heritage Officer, Donegal County Council. “Their tremendous effort and hard work help to raise awareness and encourage the conservation of our natural, built and cultural heritage. This year’s theme is ‘It’s in Your Nature’ highlighting the connections between people, place and our natural heritage. Investing in our heritage helps to raise awareness, foster interest and generate pride in our heritage, convey our sense of place and identity as well as attract visitors, support jobs and sustain local economies. Credit for the success of ‘Heritage Week’ in County Donegal must go to the people who organise events – many on a voluntary basis – and the communities that support them.” At national government level, Heritage is part of the newly-reconfigured Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and the ‘Creative Ireland’ programme presents opportunities for much-needed investment in our heritage, arts and culture.
Copies of the County Donegal Heritage Week Event Guide will be available in tourist offices, libraries, public service centres, museums and heritage centres next week and on-line at www.heritageweek.ie or www.donegalcoco.ie/heritage
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