Water and National Heritage: An evening with Arctic Explorer Chris Barrett

Join us for a captivating evening with Irish explorer and Heritage Council Heritage in Schools Specialist Chris Barrett, as he shares stories, photos, and insights from his extraordinary journeys through some of the planet’s most iconic and endangered environments.

From photographing polar bears in the Arctic to immersing himself in the Amazon Rainforest and completing a dog sledding expedition in 2025, Chris’s travels connect the dots between the world’s water-based ecosystems and our own cultural and environmental heritage here in Ireland.

This engaging talk will:

Highlight the critical role of global water systems in shaping life, culture, and climate

Draw parallels between indigenous knowledge in the Amazon, Arctic survival traditions, and Irish folklore and water heritage

Explore the impacts of climate change on global and Irish ecosystems

Inspire a deeper appreciation of Ireland’s rivers, lakes, bogs, and coastlines

A Q&A session and community discussion will follow the talk.

This event is part of National Heritage Week 2025 and takes place on Friday the 22nd of August and celebrates Water Heritage Day. We are grateful that this event is made possible by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).