Hide Subscribe Panel

A day of play: National Heritage Week celebrates Wild Child Day

1390152

Wild Child Day will take place on Wednesday, 18th August and the Heritage Council is encouraging children and families to drop the devices, and get outdoors to explore heritage in their locality.

Heritage project organisers have embraced this message and in preparation for National Heritage Week, have been working to create projects showcasing ‘heritage for all ages’.

To help get those younger heritage enthusiasts started, here are a selection of activities taking place this year during Wild Child Day.

Online children’s crafts: Build a Viking longship with Kim Jenkinson (Co. Dublin – South Dublin, online)
11.00 am

This Zoom craft workshop will explore how the Vikings built their famous longships and children will learn how to design and create their own miniature models. Material packs will be available for collection at the Clondalkin Library one week prior to the event. More…

In Search of Otter Poo: Otter ID on Mulkear River (Co. Limerick, in-person)
2.00 pm

Become a nature detective at this family friendly event in Limerick. Ruairí Ó Conchúir of the Local Authority Waters Programme will explain the amazing world of the European Otter and the biodiversity of the Mulkear River at Annacotty. Ruairí will outline the role of otter poo in otter identification and discuss otter habitat, diet, instream and riparian biodiversity and the importance of good water quality. More…

Become a Donegal museum detective (Co. Donegal, in-person)
Museum hours
Families are welcome to borrow a free educational backpack to transform young ones into museum detectives as they explore the exhibitions. After completing the activities, have your Donegal Museum Detectives Passport stamped and collect a prize. More…

Burrenbeo Wild Child event (Co. Clare, in-person)
11.00 am

Spend a fun-filled morning investigating the bugs and blooms of the Burren in one of Clare’s most stunning and fascinating areas. More…

Nuacht

Tuilleadh Nuachta
Hertitage Hero Award Athlone231026 8

National Heritage Week Awards 2026 - Winners and Runners-up Announced

The National Heritage Week Awards 2026 ceremony took place on Thursday, 29 October 2026, celebrating the individuals, community groups and organisations whose outstanding events helped showcase and protect Ireland's built, natural and cultural heritage.

The 2026 Awards recognise the most engaging and inspiring events from National Heritage Week 2026. Over the course of nine days from 15–23 August, communities across Ireland came together to celebrate local heritage through walks, talks, workshops, exhibitions, performances and family events. This year's theme, Heritage at Risk, encouraged people to explore and protect the places, traditions, skills and stories that form an important part of our shared heritage.
Gearoid O Brien NHW Hero 2026

National Heritage Week 2026 Heritage Hero Announced

The Heritage Council is delighted to share that the 2026 National Heritage Week Heritage Hero has been awarded to Gearóid O'Brien for his lifelong dedication to preserving, promoting and celebrating the heritage of Athlone and Ireland.

The Heritage Hero award honours an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding, long-term contribution to the protection and promotion of Ireland's heritage. Unlike the other categories, this award is based solely on public nominations and is considered a lifetime achievement award.
Heritage awards 2024 03

Craobhiomaitheoirí Náisiúnta na Seachtaine Oidhreachta Náisiúnta 2026 á bhFógairt

Aithnítear i nGradaim na Seachtaine Oidhreachta Náisiúnta obair eagraithe imeachtaí na Seachtaine Oidhreachta Náisiúnta ó thaobh imeachtaí a chruthú agus a chur ar siúl ina gceiliúrtar ár n-oidhreacht thógtha, nádúrtha agus chultúrtha.

Saothraíonn eagraithe imeachtaí ó áiteanna ar fud na hÉireann a bpaisean agus a saineolas gach bliain le heispéiris nach ligfear i ndearmad agus spreagúla a chruthú don phobal i rith na Seachtaine Oidhreachta Náisiúnta. Déanann na gradaim seo ceiliúradh ar chruthaitheacht, ar dhúthracht agus ar dhíograis na bpobal, na n-eagraíochtaí agus na ndaoine aonair a oibríonn chun ár n-oidhreacht a chur in iúl do dhaoine eile agus í a chaomhnú.

Tá gliondar croí orainn na himeachtaí a cuireadh ar an ngearrliosta a fhógairt i measc roinnt catagóirí gradaim, a léiríonn gach ceann díobh rannchuidiú as cuimse le hoidhreacht na hÉireann.

Fógrófar buaiteoirí na gcatagóirí uile ag searmanas bronnta Ghradaim na Seachtaine Oidhreachta Náisiúnta an 29 Deireadh Fómhair 2026.

Seo a leanas na catagóirí agus na himeachtaí a cuireadh ar an ngearrliosta don bhliain 2026: