Grab your free copy of the County Donegal Heritage Week Event Guide and get involved in National Heritage Week that runs from Saturday, August 19 until Sunday, August 27.
The event guide was compiled by the County Donegal Heritage Office of Donegal County Council and is available free-of-charge in tourist offices, libraries, museums and heritage centres across the county.
With over 120 events planned, County Donegal is the county with the most Heritage Week events per head of population in Ireland.
“National Heritage Week not only showcases the heritage of County Donegal but also represents the best of the heritage sector in the counts,” said Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council.
“The number of people involved in organising ‘Heritage Week’ events in the county continues to grow. These events encourage people to engage with heritage at the local level. The people who organise events are enthusiastic, committed and often volunteer their time in order to make National Heritage Week the great success it is.
“It’s little wonder then that these events are well attended by the people of Donegal and draw visitors to our county. Those who work in the heritage organisations, museums and heritage centres and live in historic houses play their part by making the heritage that they care for more accessible through the ‘Heritage Week’ programme of events.”
This year’s theme for National Heritage Week is ‘It’s in Your Nature’ highlighting the links between people and our natural heritage.
The aims of Heritage Week are to raise awareness of natural, built and cultural heritage and to encourage its preservation and conservation. Donegal County Council is playing its part with over 20 ‘Heritage Week’ events being organised or hosted by Cultural Services.
County Donegal is the place to be during Heritage Week with over 120 events already planned around the county during that week, most of which are free.
Events include heritage open days, guided walks, fieldtrips, exhibitions, illustrated talks, historical re-enactments, birds of prey displays, whale watching, garden tours, traditional skills demonstrations, launch events, film screenings, storytelling, traditional music and children’s activities.
National Heritage Week is an integral part of European Heritage Days celebrated in 50 countries across Europe. National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council & Local Authority Heritage Officers with support from the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and Fáilte Ireland.
The County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council has compiled the highly-popular, pocket-size County Donegal ‘Heritage Week’ Event Guide again this year and it’s available free-of-charge from libraries, museums, heritage centres and tourist offices and on-line at the County Donegal Heritage Office website at: www.donegalcoco.ie/heritage.
There’s also a pull-out day-by-day guide to events in the centre pages of the booklet. Updates are available on the National Heritage Week website at: www.heritageweek.ie
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2017
♣ Photographing the Night Sky at Fanad Lighthouse from 9:45 p.m. to Midnight.
♣ Arts, Crafts, Heritage & Museum Exhibitions at the Welcome Centre, Burtonport from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Heritage Open House: Visit to Vernacular Cottage at Bridie’s Cottage, Roshine, near Dunfanaghy with owner and author Clive Symmons from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Traditional Building Skills demonstrations organised by the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter at Church Lane, Letterkenny from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
♣ Outdoor Meditation & Mindful Walk with Emer Callaghan Life Coaching at Wood at the Trees Forest School, Keelogs, Church Hill at 11 a.m.
♣ Coastal Walk & Cemetery Visit from car park at Magheraclogher Beach, Bunbeg at 11 a.m.
♣ #MyValuedPlace: Twitter talk and launch in Cyberspace with Dr. Andrew McClelland from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
♣ Burtonport Harbour Heritage Walk leaving from the Welcome Centre, Burtonport at 2 p.m.
♣ Historic Bus Tour of Killybegs with Derek Vial leaving from the Bay View Hotel, Killybegs at 2 p.m.
♣ Fauna & Flora Photography Exhibition at Malin Head Community Hall, Malin Head from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ Malin Head Heritage Exhibition at Malin Head Community Hall, Malin Head from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ A Guided Tour of St. Anne’s Church, Ballyshannon at Church Avenue, Ballyshannon at 3 p.m.
♣ ‘Under the Sea’ Family Fun Event at Shorefront, Buncrana from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Evening Grouse Walk at Shallogans, Fintown at 6:30 p.m.
♣ An Evening of Music & Laughter at Glebe House & Gallery, Church Hill from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017
♣ Crohy Head Guided Walk leaving from Maghery Community Centre / Ionad an Mhachaire at 10 a.m.
♣ ‘Invasive Nature of Nature’: Guided Bus Tour from Dolmen Centre, Kilclooney, Portnoo at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
♣ Family Fun Day at Donegal Castle at Donegal Castle, Donegal Town from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
♣ Kilbarron Castle Conservation Group Bardic School Environmental Day starting at the Marine Centre, Creevy at 2:30 p.m.
♣ Family Nature Walk from Glenveagh Castle Courtyard, Glenveagh National Park, Church Hill at 2:30 p.m.
♣ ‘Dungloe: 250 Years of History’ Heritage Walk leaving from Ionad Teampaill Chròine, Chapel Road, Dungloe at 3 p.m.
♣ Fauna & Flora Photography Exhibition at Malin Head Community Hall, Malin Head from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
♣ Malin Head Heritage Exhibition at Malin Head Community Hall, Malin Head from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
♣ Turas at St. Peter’s Lough with Talk by Helen Meehan meeting at Green Pump, Mountcharles at 3 p.m.
♣ Historical Characters at Doe Castle at Doe Castle, Sheephaven Bay near Creeslough from 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
♣ Wildfowl Walk with Tyrone Nelson meet at McGrath’s Car Park, Inch Wildflowl Reserve at 10 a.m.
MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2017
♣ Stone Age Tools Exhibition at Greencastle Golf Club from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Klaus Laitenberger Talk & Walk at Community Garden, Bundoran at 11 a.m.
♣ Open Garden at Salthill Garden, Mountcharles from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ ‘From Flax to Linen’ Talk by Colm Clarke at The Exchange, Castle Avenue, Buncrana at 7 p.m.
♣ ‘Living Rivers: Bugs & Beasts of the River Lennon’ Walk & Talk at The Quay, Ramelton at 6 p.m.
♣ Historic Tour of Graveyard at St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Stanorlar at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017
♣ Stone Age Tools Exhibition at Greencastle Golf Club from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ ‘Share Your Story / Inis do Scéal’ event in Glencolmcille Folk Village with staff and students from Queen’s University Belfast from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ ‘History of the Lough’ Walk & Talk at Buncrana Community Library, St. Mary’s Road, Buncrana at 12 p.m.
♣ Nature Walk at Fort Dunree, Linsfort, Buncrana at 3 p.m.
♣ Wild Flower Walk with Anne Donovan at Gortnamullan, Malin Head at 5 p.m.
♣ Historical Nature Walk & Expo leaving from the Abbey, Rathmullan at 7 p.m.
♣ Official opening of new access route to Paupers’ Graveyard, Ballyshannon. Meet at McGinley’s Bar, Bishop Street, Ballyshannon at 7 p.m.
♣ ‘What Makes Landscapes Special?’ Talk by Prof. Keith Lilley & Dr. Mark Gardiner, Queen’s University Belfast in Oideas Gael, Glencolmcille at 7:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017
♣ Pictorial Display of Moville at Moville Community Library, The Square, Moville from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
♣ Garden Nature Discovery Day at Bridge House Education Centre, Glenveagh National Park, Church Hill from from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Carndonagh Heritage Walk leaving from the Blue Plaque, The Diamond, Carndonagh at 11 a.m.
♣ Là ag Teach Niall Ò Dònaill at Teach Niall Ò Dònaill, Loughanure from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ ‘St. John’s Point during World War II’ fieldtrip. Meet at Èire sign at St. John’s Point at 11 a.m.
♣ Cathedral Quarter Forage Walk leaving from Sentry Hill Monument, Letterkenny at 11 a.m.
♣ Forest Fun on Wild Child Day at Wood for the Trees School, Keelogs, Church Hill from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
♣ Wild Child Day at Oakfield Park, Oakfield Demesne, Raphoe from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Birds of Prey Display with Martin Maloney at Central Library, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
♣ Family Urban Nature Walk with Aengus Kennedy leaving from Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny at 2 p.m.
♣ Wild Child Family Fun Day at Glebe House & Gallery, Church Hill from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
♣ Walking Tour of Historical Fahan from St. Mura’s Church of Ireland Car Park, Fahan at 2:30 p.m.
♣ A Wildlife Walk Down Binion Road: Clonmany’s Greenway from the Market Square, Clonmany at 2:30 p.m.
♣ ‘Living Rivers: From Source to Sea through the Eske Catchment’ bus and walking tour from Donegal Public Services Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town at 6 p.m.
♣ An Evening with Thomas the Miller at Buncrana Community Library, St. Mary’s Road, Buncrana from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
♣ ‘Local Landlord Murray Stewart’ Talk by Helen Meehan at Killybegs International Carpet-Making & Fishing Centre at 7 p.m.
♣ Bundoran Railway Historical Talk at Bundoran Community Centre, Main Street, Bundoran at 7 p.m.
♣ Storytelling & Song Evening at the Saldanha Suite, Fort Dunree, Linsfort, Buncrana from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
♣ An Evening of Irish Traditional Music and Song at Inver Community Centre, Coolshannon, Inver from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017
♣ Nature Walk in Sheskinmore from McGlinchey’s Field Studies Centre, Sandfield, Ardara at 11 a.m.
♣ Nature Detective Day at Derrylahan Nature Trail & Log Cabin, Glenveagh National Park from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Nature & History of Lough Swilly: Walk & Talk at Buncrana Community Library, St. Mary’s Road, Buncrana at 12 p.m.
♣ Rathmullan Tour & Afternoon Tea leaving from the Putting Green by the Pier, Rathmullan at 3 p.m.
♣ ‘Donegal Women in History’ Talk with Helen Meehan at Central Library, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny at 6 p.m.
♣ Farming for Nature: Historic Farm Walk with Emmet Johnston at Strahack Farm, Inch Island, Inishowen at 6:30 p.m.
♣ Dunlewey Heritage Walk leaving from Old Church of Ireland, Dunlewey at 7 p.m.
♣ ‘The Road to Glenlough’ Talk by Christy Gillespie at Áislann Chill Chartha, Lower Main Street, Kilcar at 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017
♣ ‘St. John’s Point during World War II’ fieldtrip. Meet at Èire sign at St. John’s Point at 11 a.m.
♣ ‘Amy Young in Inishowen Heritage’ event at St. Buadan’s Church, Culdaff from 11 a.m.
♣ Templecrone Church Guided Walk from Maghery Community Centre / Ionad an Mhachaire at 11 a.m.
♣ Generation Foursomes golf event at Greencastle Golf Club from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ Stories & Children’s Games of the Past at Butt Hall/ Balor Theatre, Main Street, Ballybofey from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
♣ The Foyle: Tales of Salmon Fishing at Men’s Shed Moville, Malin Road, Moville from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
♣ ‘Interaction of Man & Nature’ Talk by Dermot McLaughlin at The Exchange, Castle Avenue, Buncrana at 7 p.m.
♣ Book Launch: ‘ Dawn of Victory’ at Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny at 7:30 p.m.
♣ Wedding Music Favourites at Christ Church, Main Street, Buncrana from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2017
♣ Traditional Building Skills demonstrations at Cathedral Quarter, Church Lane, Letterkenny from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
♣ Coastal Walk & Cemetery Visit from car park at Magheraclogher Beach, Bunbeg at 11 a.m.
♣ Natural Bee Keeping: Information Workshop at Tullyarvan Mill, Buncrana at 11 a.m.
♣ Nature-Themed Story Time for Heritage Week at Bundoran Community Library, St. Mary’s Road, Buncrana from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
♣ Annual Heritage Walk at Carndonagh Community Library, Malin Road, Carndonagh from at 11 a.m.
♣ Burtonport Railway Walk from the Welcome Centre, Burtonport at 11:30 a.m.
♣ Ros Bán Wildlife Open Garden at Ros Bán Garden, near Mongorry, Raphoe from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ ‘From the Screig to the Meal Chest’ walk from Crannògbuì National School, Crannògbuì, Loughros Point, Ardara at 1:30p.m.
♣ Whale Watch from Foreland Heights Bar car park at Bloody Foreland from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Whale Watch at Inishowen Head Tower, Inishowen Head from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Open House at The Pilot’s Cottage, Dundoan Lower, Downings from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ ‘Glenties: A Walk in the Past’ free guided tours of St. Connell’s Museum & Heritage Centre, Main Street, Glenties from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Corncutting & Threshing: How It Used To Be at McCarry’s of Kildarragh, Dungfanaghy from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ Open Garden at Salthill Garden, Mountcharles from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ John McGettigan Tribute at The Hay Hall, Carrigart from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
♣ Historical Knitters’ Walk & Talk from Sean Scoil Traigheanach, Lettermacaward at 3 p.m.
♣ Heritage Walk with Fergus Cleary from St. Brigid’s Community Centre, Ballintra at 6 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017
♣ Open Day at St. John’s Point Lightkeepers’ Houses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Disert Graveyard & Medieval Site Heritage Day at Bluestack Centre, Drimarone from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
♣ Open Day at Railway Crossing Cottage, Gate House 9, Drumark, Donegal Town from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Open Day at Termon House, Maghery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Steam Sunday at Oakfield Park, Oakfield Demesne, Raphoe from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
♣ Medieval Magic Day at Donegal Castle at Donegal Castle, Donegal Town from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ Something Fishy Going On beside restaurant at main car park, Glenveagh National Park from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
♣ King & Queen of the Mintiaghs: Fieldtrip with John J. Hegarty leaving from Supervalu Car Park, Buncrana at 2 p.m.
♣ Open Day at Leitir Corn Mill, Kilcar from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Family Nature Walk at Glenveagh Castle Courtyard, Glenveagh National Park, Church Hill at 2:30 p.m.
♣ Family Open Day at Donegal Parish Church, Tirconaill Street, Donegal Town from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
♣ Donegal Historical Society Field Day in Manorcunningham leaving from Manorcunningham Community Resource Centre at 3 p.m.
♣ Dry-Stone Walls Tour at Patsy Mclnaw’s Farm, Turrishill, Mountcharles leaving from the Green Pump, Mountcharles at 3 p.m.
♣ Seashore Talk & Walk from Maghery Community Centre/ Ionad an Mhachaire at 3 p.m.
♣ Mass in 13th-Century Tullaghbegley Graveyard, Baile an Teampall, Falcarragh at 6 p.m.
