27/06/22 Register your ‘Heritage Week’ Events

National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday, August 13 to Sunday, August 21 this year.  The Heritage Council is encouraging people, community groups, families, organisations, newcomers and enthusiasts to get involved in National Heritage Week by organising an event or project.  This year’s theme is sustainable heritage and biodiversity and event organisers are encouraged to address this theme through built, cultural and natural heritage events and projects.  On-line registration is now open and all events or projects can be registered on the National Heritage Week website at www.heritageweek.ie  There is also 100 suggestions for possible Heritage Week events available on the Heritage Week website.   

“National Heritage Week is one of Ireland’s largest annual events and this year sees a full return to in-person events” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “Digital projects are also being encouraged building on the success of on-line projects and events that saw record-breaking participation across the country last year.  The Heritage Council will promote National Heritage Week nationally and there are support materials available when you register your event or project on-line.  There are training and information webinars with useful tips for organising and promoting your events and projects on the Heritage Week website.  Heritage Week events will include built heritage open houses, guided walks, heritage site visits, fieldtrips, exhibitions, illustrated talks, historical re-enactments, nature displays, garden tours, traditional skills demonstrations, skills training, launch events, film screenings, storytelling, traditional music and children’s activities.”

Two days during Heritage Week have a particular theme: Saturday, August 20 is ‘Wild Child Day’ and encourages children and families to get outdoors to enjoy and explore the heritage and biodiversity in their locality.  Sunday, August 21 is ‘Water Heritage Day and celebrates Ireland’s water and how our history and heritage has been shaped by the sea, rivers, lakes and wetlands. 

National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers with support from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.  The aim of National Heritage Week is to build heritage awareness and appreciation while shining a light on the great work that is carried out in all communities in Ireland to preserve, conserve and promote our natural, built and cultural heritage.  In-person events and digital projects should be completed in time for National Heritage Week (August 13-21) and submitted to www.heritageweek.ie. Digital projects can be uploaded to the National Heritage Week website until Tuesday, August 23.

Speaking at the launch of National Heritage Week, Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council said “A thread that runs throughout National Heritage Week and the wider work of The Heritage Council is to maximise interest, meaningful inclusion and heritage sharing. We are appealing to in-person event and digital project organisers to consider and involve groups or individuals in their community who might not have local roots, or who might have sensory or accessibility needs.  Similarly, organisers might work with minority community members to explore a previously-overlooked aspect of local heritage and amplify its story.”

National Heritage Week is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union in which over forty countries participate each year.  For further information, log on to www.heritageweek.ie, e-mail [email protected] or telephone 087 368 3515.  Advice is also available from the County Donegal Heritage Office on (074) 917 2576.