Two of Donegal’s successful events during National Heritage Week 2019 have been selected for national awards.
The National Heritage Week Awards took place in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin last Thursday, February 6.
Local historian Vincent Breslin picked up the ‘Hidden Heritage’ Award while the ‘Heritage Communities’ Award was won by Rosses Radio.
Vincent Breslin’s event – ‘Look-Out Post 76: An Hut ar Ghualainn an Chnoic’ – explored the built and cultural heritage associated with Look-Out Post 76 at Bloody Foreland, which was constructed and occupied during ‘The Emergency’ (1939-1945).
The event shared previously undocumented stories from the families of men who had served in LOP (Look-Out Post) 76, alongside stories gathered from the local community. It gave a unique insight into the role that the LOPs and the Marine Coastwatching Service played in defending Ireland’s coastline during this period in history.
The event included a small exhibition and a commemorative ceremony, where families of the men who had served in the coastwatching service during this period were presented with certificates.
Rosses Radio won the ‘Heritage Communities’ Award for its ‘Stories, Music and Traditions of Donegal’ event. The project comprised two full days of heritage and pastimes-themed radio programming, bringing together heritage groups across the Rosses in west Donegal, and broadcast to Donegal diaspora worldwide.
The programming featured live interviews with local people engaged in heritage projects, new documentaries, features on local National Heritage Week events, and the history of the Donegal music scene and sports. Carol Ann Webb and James Breslin from Rosses Radio accepted the award on behalf of the station.
Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer said: “These awards are a fitting recognition for the thought, planning and hard work that went into organising these Heritage Week events.
“The success of Heritage Week rests with event organisers like Vincent and Rosses Radio who organise these events voluntarily to raise awareness, encourage appreciation and promote better understanding of our heritage. The standard, number and diversity of Heritage Week events in County Donegal continues to grow each year. County Donegal is consistently the county with the most Heritage Week events per head of population in the country. Over 120 events took place for National Heritage Week in County Donegal in 2019 organised by over 80 Heritage Week event organisers and attracting over 7,000 participants.”
Other award winners at the National Heritage Week Awards were the Egan family from Birr, County Offaly who won the ‘Heritage Hero’ Award; the National Parks & Wildlife Service who won the ‘Cool for Kids’ Award for an event at Clara Bog Visitor Centre in County Offaly and Myshall Muintir na Tíre, Carlow County Museum and Myshall Community Centre in County Carlow who won the ‘Le Chéile san Eoraip’ Award.
National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers. In 2020, National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday, August 15 to Sunday, August 23 and the theme is ‘Learning from our heritage’ which will focus on heritage and education. More information on National Heritage Week and how to get involved is available at www.heritageweek.ie.
