2018 Awards
The 2018 National Heritage Week Awards took place on Wednesday, 6th February 2019 at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin in a joint closing ceremony with the closing of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. There was six awards at the event.
Heritage Hero
The Heritage Hero Award celebrates an individual who always goes the extra mile for heritage, who makes an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage in Ireland. The Heritage Council received 592 nominations for the 2018 Heritage Hero Award.
Ireland’s 2018 Heritage Hero was Eugene Dunbar from Co. Westmeath. Eugene goes above and beyond to promote and protect the built, cultural and natural heritage of Westmeath.
Eugene was a geography teacher before retiring and has since devoted his boundless energy to local heritage. He is a founding member of ETHOS (Everything Tyrellspass Has On Show), a group set up to promote and enhance local heritage in Tyrellspass. Eugene is also involved in the Community Wetlands Forum and is a dedicated guardian of Cloncrow Bog, a Special Area of Conservation.
Eugene records biodiversity with his camera but also with the national biodiversity campaigns. He is active with Birdwatch Ireland and was involved in the recent swift survey of Westmeath. Eugene organises traditional music sessions and a weekly comhra, Irish language conversation group, in the village as well as geology lectures, biodiversity walks, field trips and more. His is always available to help anyone interested in the heritage of the village. The Heritage Council is pleased to award Heritage Hero to such a dedicated and enthusiastic advocate for the appreciation of local heritage.
Le Cheile san Eoraip Award
As part of European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, the Le Cheile san Eoraip Award recognises Event Organiser:s who explore Ireland’s heritage connections with other places in Europe. Three prizes were awarded:
Event: ‘Peat Crossing Borderlines’
Organiser: Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Event: ‘An Exhibition of Kilrush Ceramics’
Organiser: Kilrush and District Historical Society
Event: ‘A Taste Of The Past: Exploring Our European Connections’
Organiser: Loughrea Medieval Festival
Hidden Heritage Award
Event: ‘By hammer, lens and pencil’
Organiser: Kerry Geo Adventures/Kerry County Museum
Runner-up
Event: ‘Sharing Memories’
Organiser: Killaloe-Ballina Local History Society
Heritage Communities
Winner ‘Creative Connections’
Organiser: Crawford Art Gallery
Runners-up
Winner ‘Our Local Landscape’
Organiser: Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre
Event: ‘Gallows Hill Community Excavation and Medieval Festival’
Organiser: Waterford County Museum/Gallows Hill Project
Cool for Kids
Event: ‘The Master and the Mystery’
Organiser: The Irish Workhouse Centre
Runners-up
Event: ‘Burren Wild Child’
Organiser: Burrenbeo Trust
Event: ‘Youghal Medieval Festival’
Organiser: Youghal Heritage Committee
