About National Heritage Week
National Heritage Week, an initiative by the Heritage Council, celebrates all things heritage. It brings together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation.
Since the Heritage Council assumed responsibility for National Heritage Week in 2005, it has grown from a small 500 event to almost 2,000 events in 2023. The Heritage Council assumed the role of coordinator of National Heritage Week from the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. Since then the week has grown into a highly successful programme.
History
National Heritage Week has grown since becoming part of the Heritage Council. Starting off small with a limited number of events, it has grown to be an island-wide event celebrating all aspects of our built, natural and cultural heritage. The nine day long event now includes Wild Child Day and Water Heritage Day as part of its event.
Did you know that the theme for National Heritage Week is also the theme for over 40 European countries? As National Heritage Week is part of the European Heritage Days network, Ireland along with other countries collectively decide the theme for Heritage Week each year. Since 2010, National Heritage Week has had its own theme.
The list below explore the themes for each years events and how it has grown.
Brief description of the theme
The theme for National Heritage Week this year is ‘Living Heritage’ which is defined as the practices, knowledge and skills that have been passed from one generation to the next, and are still in use today. As such, many events and projects will focus on the keeping alive of these crafts, skills and practices.
Number of events
1912
Brief description of the theme
In 2022 invites organisers were invited to consider how we can conserve our rich built, cultural and natural heritage and how that can contribute to developing a more sustainable future. For Biodiversity, as the world in which climate change is becoming more and more apparent, National Heritage Week 2022 invited organisers to encourage greater appreciation of the natural world, to look at the variety of plant and animal life in their locality, and conserve native species and natural landscapes.
Number of events
1804
Brief description of the theme
This year’s theme is focused on how to connect with ‘heritage newcomers’, who have not engaged with National Heritage Week before; groups or individuals who may not traditionally feel included in local heritage; and heritage enthusiasts of all ages, when planning their projects.
Number of projects
1000
Brief description of the theme
In 2020 we encouraged everybody to explore the close connection between education and heritage, and to consider what our heritage can teach us about our past, what it can tell us about our present and how it can provide fresh ideas for a sustainable future.
Number of projects
800
Brief description of the theme
It’s time to explore what it is to be a child, who has a hobby, enjoys a craft, is an enthusiastic collector, plays an instrument or just likes to tell stories. We hope this year, as in previous years, you find something to enjoy by yourself, with friends or with family
Number of events
2089
Brief description of the theme
The theme encourages us to think about how we can deepen the connection between people and heritage, and build a legacy of increased public engagement.
Number of events
2190
Brief description of the theme
The theme of Nature and People is to create awareness of the importance of Ireland’s rich and diverse natural heritage and to think about our interaction with this valuable and at times non-renewable resource.
Number of events
2299
Brief description of the theme
In 2016, Ireland celebrated the year of the centenary of 1916. National Heritage Week invited organisers to look back on the last 100 years of Ireland's heritage: historical, archaeological, architectural and environmental.
Number of events
1876
Brief description of the theme
This year’s theme explores our industrial and design heritage. Ireland has a wide and varied history of industrial buildings, machines and tools. This theme celebrates our own heritage and the story of these industries and buildings.
Number of events
1826
Brief description of the theme
It is our communities, indeed our families, big and small, that are the custodians of our local heritage and who will pass on traditions and knowledge to the next generation. The 2014 theme explored this.
Number of events
1800
Brief description of the theme
This year’s theme is about heritage as not just nostalgia, or some misplaced aim to live in the past, but an opportunity to engage with our own story and in particular the natural and cultural heritage of where we live.
Number of events
1715
Brief description of the theme
Encouraging everyone to get out and explore the heritage around them in their community.
Number of events
1588
Brief description of the theme
This year’s theme encouraged all of us to see how we are linked to each other through the landscape and our culture.
Number of events
1460
Brief description of the theme
What is in our heritage around us that we might discover? The 2010 asked us to explore the heritage in our locality to see what might be unearthed.
Number of events
1300
No theme
Number of events
1000
No theme
Number of events
1032
No theme
Number of events
800
No theme
Number of events
600
No theme
Number of events
500