National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday, August 17 to Sunday, August 25 this year and once again there promises to be a host of events across Donegal.
The Heritage Council is encouraging people, community groups, families, organisations, newcomers, enthusiasts and experts to get involved in National Heritage Week by organising an event or project.
This year’s theme is Connections, Routes & Networks and event organisers are encouraged to explore the various ways we are connected through our built, archaeological, cultural and natural heritage.
On-line registration is now open and all events or projects can be registered on the National Heritage Week website at www.heritageweek.ie Organisers are encouraged to register their events by Monday, July 15 in order to be included in the County Donegal Heritage Week Event Guide but events can be registered on-line up until the start of Heritage Week.
“Heritage Week in County Donegal was a tremendous success last year with 95 events and three digital projects taking place in the county” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.
“Credit must go to all the people, community groups and heritage organisations in the county who work hard every year to protect, conserve and manage our county’s rich heritage. National Heritage Week provides an opportunity for them to showcase their local heritage and to promote their work. This year, we anticipate that there will be over 100 events in County Donegal. Events will include built heritage open houses, guided walks, heritage site visits, fieldtrips, exhibitions, illustrated talks, workshops, traditional skills demonstrations, nature displays, garden tours, artisan fairs, historical re-enactments, launch events, film screenings, storytelling, traditional music and children’s activities.
“The County Donegal Heritage Office supports Heritage Week event organisers by providing advice, supplying branded Heritage Week merchandise free-of-charge and printing the County Donegal Heritage Week Event Guide in local newspapers. The County Donegal Heritage Office will also host a lunchtime event and photo call for Heritage Week event organisers in the County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny on Thursday, 1st August at 1 p.m. and all Heritage Week event organisers are invited to attend.”
National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers 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. The County Donegal Heritage Office will assist people, community groups and heritage organisations in County Donegal by providing free National Heritage Week-branded merchandise and promoting their events.
New this year is Heritage Open Day on Saturday, August 17 that invites civic and historic properties to open their doors for public access on that day. If you have an historic house or manage an historic property and would like to participate in the Heritage Open Day, further details and supports are available from the County Donegal Heritage Office.
Two days during Heritage Week have a particular theme: Saturday, August 24 is ‘Wild Child Day’ and encourages children and families to make the most of the outdoors to enjoy and explore the heritage and biodiversity in their locality. Sunday, August 25 is ‘Water Heritage Day’ and celebrates Ireland’s water, our connections with it and how our history and heritage has been shaped by the sea, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
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 heritageweek@heritagecouncil.ie or telephone (056) 777 0777. Advice is also available from the County Donegal Heritage Office on (074) 916 3824.
Pictured top with broadcaster Síle Seoige are Donegal representatives from award winners Togra Fiontar agus Cultúr Uladh and the Inishowen Rivers Trust and representatives from runners-up Áras Sheáin Bhain at the National Heritage Week Awards in 2023. Registration is now open for Heritage Week events at www.heritageweek.ie
