Heritage News & Events

Mapping Brian Friel's Ballybeg

Donegal County Council is inviting submissions by Wednesday, September 21 at 4 p.m. to undertake research into ‌Mapping Brian Friel's Ballybeg - Terms of Reference

Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award Nomination

Our Ramelton Historic Towns Initiative has been shortlisted for a Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award in the Heritage & Built Environment category.  Read more . . .   

Thank You!

A big thanks to all Heritage Week event organisers for making Heritage Week in County Donegal a great success again this year.  Read more . . .  

Ramelton Historic Towns Initiative wins RIAI Urban Design Award

The Ramelton Historic Towns Initiative has won the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland 'Urban Design' Award and was highly-commended for 'Sustainability.  Read more . . . 

Community Monuments Fund - awards announced

The National Monuments Service has awarded €300,559 for the conservation of eight archaeological monuments in County Donegal.  Read more . . . 

Community Heritage Grants Scheme - awards announced

The Heritage Council has awarded €218,000 to support sixteen Donegal-based heritage projects under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme 2022

New Historic Towns Initiative for Ballyshannon

Donegal County Council & Ballyshannon Regeneration Group have secured €250,000 for a Historic Towns Inititaive in Ballyshannon.  Read more . . . 

Illuminating Colmcille Colouring Book

The free, 36-page colouring book highlights some of the heritage sites, places, objects and archives associated with St. Colmcille’s life and legacy and was produced by the County Donegal Heritage Office.  Pick up a free copy in your local library, County Museum, Donegal Education Centre, County Donegal Heritage Office or download the Illuminating Colmcille colouring book here. 

St. Colmcille's Donegal Audio Guide

Find out more about the heritage sites associated with St. Colmcille in County Donegal in this audio guide produced by Abarta Heritage and commissioned by the County Donegal Heritage Office as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.  Read more . . .  

3D Virtual Tour of Turas Cholm Cille, Glencolmcille

As part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan, the County Donegal Heritage Office has launched a 3D Virtual Tour of Turas Cholm Cille.  Read more . . .  

Community Heritage Grant Awards Announced

The Heritage Council has announced over €139,000 for sixteen heritage initiatives in County Donegal.  Read more . . .  

Thatch in County Donegal - RTÉ News Feature

Historic thatch in County Donegal was featured on the RTÉ News on Sunday, March 14.  Read more . . . 

Thatch Repair Grant Scheme wins Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award

We're delighted that our Thatch Repair Grant Scheme has won the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award in the ‘Heritage & Built Environment’ category.  Read more . . .  

Donegal Successes at National Heritage Awards

Rathmullan & District Local History Society, Johnny Shiels, Disert Heritage Group & Donegal GAP Heritage & History Group celebrate successes at National Heritage Awards.  Read more . . . 

Community Heritage Grants Scheme

The Heritage Council has provided €45,000 in funding to heritage groups in County Donegal under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme.  Read more . . . 

Community Monuments Fund

The National Monuments Service has provided €60,000 in funding for the conservation of three archaeological monuments in County Donegal under the Community Monuments Fund.  Read more . . .

Heritage Goes Virtual in Donegal's Schools

The Heritage Council in partnership with the Donegal Education Centre and the County Donegal Heritage Office is seeking primary schools in County Donegal to sign up for the free 'Heritage in Schools' virtual programme before Wednesday, October 14.  Read more . . .

Major Historic Towns Initiative for Ramelton

The Heritage Council has awarded €200,000 to a heritage-led regeneration initiative in Ramelton under the Historic Towns Initiative.  The Heritage Office and Conservation Office of Donegal County Council working in partnership with the Ramelton Georgian Society, Dedalus Architecture and the local community and property owners secured the investment.  Read more . . . 

Habitat Assessments of Historic Graveyards

Donegal County Council in partnership with the National Parks & Wildlife Service is commissioning Habitat Assesments & Mapping of Historic Graveyards in the guardianship of Donegal County Council.  Read more . . . 

Gardening for Biodiversity Booklet

There has been an overwhelming demand for the free, 40-page, illustrated booklet on 'Gardening for Biodiversity' by Juanita Browne, illustrated by Barry Reynolds and produced by the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network.  Read more . . .  

IPI Award for Historic Towns Initiative

Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Committee, Dedalus Architecture, Lower Church Lane Residents’ Association & The Heritage Council won the President’s Highly Commended Project Award at the Irish Planning Institute Awards in Dublin on February 27. Read more . . . 

Historic Towns Initiative

The County Donegal Heritage Office & the Conservation Office of Donegal County Council in association with the Cathedral Quarter Committee secures €200,000 in funding for conservation works along Church Lane, Letterkenny under the Heritage Council's Historic Towns Initiaitive.  Read more . . .   

Audit of Columban Cultural Heritage

Donegal County Council & Derry City & Strabane District Council in partnership with Foras na Gaeilge & The Heritage Council have commissioned an Audit of Columban Cultural Heritage.  Read more . . . 

Heritage Ireland 2030 - Public Consultation

The public consultation for the new National Heritage Plan (Heritage Ireland 2030) has been extended until Sunday, March 31.  Read more . . .   

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County Donegal Heritage Office Annual Report

Find out about the work of the County Donegal Heritage Office in the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Download the ‌

Schools' Folklore Collection Booklet - now available 

The 'Scéaltaí' booklet on the 1930s Schools' Folklore Collection in County Donegal is now available free-of-charge from the County Donegal Heritage Office or on-line.  Read more . . .

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Buncrana Tidy Towns wins Pollinator Award

For the second year in a row, Buncrana Tidy Towns has won the regional 'Tidy Towns' Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West & West Region.  Read more . . . 

Thank You to all Heritage Week Event Organisers!

The County Donegal Heritage Office would like to thank the over 80 heritage organisations, community groups and individuals who organised events for National Heritage Week in County Donegal.

Community Heritage Grants Awarded

The Heritage Council has announced €83,200 for 16 heritage initiatives in County Donegal.  Read more . . . 

Built Heritage Investment Scheme Grants Awarded

Ten projects in County Donegal have received funding under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme.  Read more . . . 

Structures at Risk Fund Grants Awarded

Three projects in County Donegal have received funding under the Structures at Risk Fund.  Read more . . .

County Donegal Heritage Office: Annual Report (2017)

Take a look back at a year in the life of the County Donegal Heritage Office.  Read the County Donegal Heritage Office Annual Report (2017) 

Heritage & Habitat Teachers' Guide - now available

The County Donegal Heritage Office in association with the Donegal Education Centre has launched the 'Heritage & Habitat in Your Community' Teachers' Guide by Billy Flynn & Éanna Ní Lamhna.  Read more . . .

'Tidy Towns' Local Authority Pollinator Award

Buncrana Tidy Towns has won the regional 'Tidy Towns' Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West & West Region in the Large Town Category.  Read more . . . 

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Audit of Donegal's Oral History Recordings Launched

The County Donegal Heritage Office in association with The Heritage Council launched the Audit of Oral History Recordings for County Donegal on Friday, May 26.  Read more . . . 

Oral History Training Workshop

The County Donegal Heritage Office in association with The Heritage Council held a free one-day Oral History Training Workshop recently that was fully booked.  If you are interested in participating in a future workshop, please let us know.  Read more . . .  

Conserving County Donegal's Traditional Shopfronts

The County Donegal Heritage Office in association with The Heritage Council has commissioned a guidance document on County Donegal's Traditional shopfronts and vernacular signage.  Read more . . .

HERICOAST Project

HERICOAST is a European cooperation project (worth €1.7 million) that aims to improve the management of coastal natural and cultural heritage policies.  Read more . . .

'Material Culture of Donegal Communities Abroad'

Free Booklet

The County Donegal Heritage Office & the County Donegal Heritage Forum in partnership with The Heritage Council launched the 'Material Culture of Donegal Communities Abroad' booklet at the Donegal-Irish Diaspora Conference at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology in May 2016.  Read more . . .

'County Donegal in 1916: From the Edge'

History & Heritage Education Pack

The Donegal County Archives, Donegal County Museum, County Donegal Heritage Office and the Donegal County Library Service have produced a free 'County Donegal in 1916' History & Heritage Education Pack.  Read more . . .   

Free Dry-Stone Walls Field Guide

'A Field Guide to the Dry-Stone Walls of County Donegal' by Patrick McAfee is available free-of-charge from the County Donegal Heritage Office.  Read more . . .