2020 Awards

Heritage Hero

The Heritage Hero for 2020 was Christy Cunniffe.

Christy Cunniffe has more than 30 years of involvement with heritage. Recently retired as the archaeological field monument advisor for Co Galway, during his time in the role Mr Cunniffe went above and beyond to work with local communities and assist heritage groups. He has worked with several villages to carry out heritage audits resulting in the identification of heritage sites; he was also involved with the Beara Breifne way, the Clonfert Conservation Plan and the forthcoming national heritage plan, Heritage Ireland 2030. His work in the Slieve Aughty uplands engaged local communities in Clare and Galway and promoted the heritage, archaeology and culture of this unique shared region. Mr Cunniffe is being recognised for his efforts to engage and include local communities and heritage groups, to spread his own knowledge and enthusiasm among those around him.

Heritage on Your Doorstep Award

Project “Bringing the 1911 Census to Life: Killeshandra”
Organiser: Killeshandra Tidy Towns Heritage Group (Cavan)

Runners-up
Project “Cork Jewish Heritage Virtual Walk”
Organiser: Ruti Lachs

Project “Why is Disert important to me?”(Donegal)
Organiser: Disert Heritage Group

Re-Learning Skills from our Heritage Award

Project “Restoration of old Donegal Flax wheel” (Donegal)
Organiser: Johnny Shiels


Runners-up
Project “Traditional Sheep Farming & Sheep dog training” (South Dublin)
Organiser: Donie Anderson


Project “Milltown's Heritage Food Project” (Galway)
Organiser: Milltown Heritage Group

The Heritage of Education Award

Project “Rathmullan goes back to school for Heritage Week” (Donegal)
Organiser: Rathmullan & District Local History Society


Runners-up
Project “Labasheeda Ar Scoil - An Educational Journey” (Clare)
Organiser: Labasheeda Projects Group


Project “Gilson for the 21st Century: Learning from our Heritage” (Meath)
Organiser: Sue Russell

Water Heritage

Project “Explore the Shore: Seaweeds of inner Bantry Bay” (Cork)
Organiser: Ellen Hutchins Festival


Runners-up
Project “Back to the Past, Valuing Water in the Community” (Kilkenny)
Organiser: Tullahought Community Development Ltd.

Project “Shannon Town Community Wetlands Project” (Clare)
Organiser: Shannon Town Community Wetlands

County Awards

Antrim
“Mapping Places- Exploring Heritage on Our Doorsteps through Maps”
Heritage Hub, Queens University Belfast.

Carlow
“Education through the ages in Myshall Parish”
Myshall Muintir Na Tíre


Cavan
“Meet the Caretakers”
Cavan’s Historic Graveyard Network

Clare
“Clarecastle on film in the 1950s”
Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group


Cork City
“Cork Jewish Heritage Virtual Walk”
Ruti Lachs


Cork County
“A Decade of Celebrating Heritage of Bantry
Bantry Historical & Archaeological Society

Derry
“Horrible Histories of Lough Neagh”
Spreading the Words: Irish Language & Heritage

Donegal
“Stories in Our.... lockdown project”
Donegal G.A.P. Heritage and History Group

Down
“Uncovering Monuments in the Ulster Landscape”
Ulster Archaeological Society

Dublin City
“Wordsteps - The Grand Canal, Dublin”
Camilla Fanning


Dublin -Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
“Airfield Dromartin Jersey Herd - Butter Making”
Airfield Estate


Dublin- Fingal
“Snapshots of Fingal’s Past”
Fingal County Council


Dublin- South Dublin
“Traditional Sheep Farming and Sheepdog Training”
Donie Anderson


Fermanagh
“Remembering the Landscape - Cuilcagh to Cleenish: A Great Place”
Barney Devine


Galway County
“Milltown’s Heritage Food Project”
Milltown Heritage Group



Galway City
“Exploring Mammals in Merlin Woods”
Friends of Merlin Woods

Kerry
“Young Explorer with Neil Hyland”
Wild Derrynane

Kildare
“The Irish Draught Horse Yesterday and Today”
Kildare Branch Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association


Kilkenny
“Back to the Past, Valuing Water in the Community”
Tullahought Community Development Ltd.

Laois
“Killabban Monastic Site Project”
Killabban Monastery Restoration Committee

Leitrim
“Back to the future through Memories and Songs”
Fionnuala Maxwell

Limerick
“An audio-visual tour of Knockfierna”
Knockfierna Heritage Society

Longford
“Let me tell you!”
Rath Mhuire Men’s Social Club

Louth
“A Glimpse behind the Shopfront”
Carlingford Lough Heritage Trust

Mayo
“Mulranny Down through the Decades”
Mulranny Old Photos Group

Meath (2 projects)
“Travellers Workshop, Photo Exhibition, Pack and DVD”
Meath Travellers Workshops

“Boyne Currach Heritage “
Boyne Currach Heritage Group


Monaghan
“Sharing school & church memories across the generations”
St. Salvator’s Church Youth

Offaly
Lighting Up the Night
Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival


Roscommon
“Bringing Kilteevan Schools Folklore Collection to the parish audience”
Kilteevan Graveyard Committee

Sligo
“The Rosses Point Coastal Way Project”
The Rosses Point Coastal Way Group

Tipperary
“A Harvest Knot for Lughnasa”
Nenagh Arts Centre

Tyrone
“If Stones could Speak - The Archaeological Landscape of Tyrone”
Derry City &Strabane District Council

Waterford
“Knockboy Ogham Stones”
Ogham in 3D

Westmeath
“Creating the Voices of Generations Gone”
Mount Temple Baylin Heritage Group

Wexford
“Courtown Woods - Our Heritage”
Seal Rescue Ireland

Wicklow
Glendalough Heritage Forum: short films, website, promoting heritage
Glendalough Heritage Forum