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.
Heritage Hero Award
The Heritage Hero Award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting, preserving and sharing heritage in their community.
Winner
Gearoid O'Brien, Westmeath
For more than five decades, Gearoid O'Brien has been one of Athlone's most dedicated champions of local heritage. Following a career as Senior Executive Librarian with responsibility for the Aidan Heavey Library in Athlone, he retired in 2018 having made an extraordinary contribution to public service, local history and culture.
A prolific local historian, writer and broadcaster, Gearoid has made a significant contribution to documenting and sharing Athlone's history and heritage. His contribution extends well beyond publishing, supporting organisations including the Old Athlone Society, Connaught Street and Environs Community Group, the Athlone No. 1 Battery Project and numerous heritage initiatives.
As part of National Heritage Week 2026, Gearoid led guided tours of Athlone's historic gun batteries and medieval town, participated in an afternoon of poetry, and wrote What's This Heritage Malarkey?, a play performed by members of the Connaught Street and Environs Community Group.
Heritage at Risk Award
The Heritage at Risk Award celebrates events and projects that embraced the 2026 National Heritage Week theme, highlighting aspects of Ireland's built, natural and cultural heritage that are vulnerable or under threat.
Winner
Flax Threads of Time Flax Lín - Clonakilty Community Flax Project and Wombat Media, Cork
Created to mark the 200th anniversary of the collapse of the flax industry in West Cork, Flax Threads of Time invited visitors to explore the history and heritage of a once-thriving local industry through virtual reality, film, visual art and traditional demonstrations. Using immersive storytelling and innovative technology, the project brought the story of flax cultivation and linen production to life while encouraging audiences to reflect on the people, places and traditions connected to this important chapter of Cork's industrial heritage.
Runners-Up
Outside Our Door: The Hidden History of the Dún Laoghaire Magdalene Laundry Laura Sarah Dowdall, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
Presented by artist Laura Sarah Dowdall, Outside Our Door explored the hidden history of the Dún Laoghaire Magdalene Laundry through archival research, oral histories and community engagement. Participants followed a guided route through the town, discovering the people, places and institutions connected to the laundry. The project highlighted the importance of preserving difficult histories and ensuring overlooked stories remain part of the public record.
The Rambling House Birr Theatre & Arts Centre with Birr Men Together, Offaly
The Rambling House explored the tradition of the Irish rambling house through storytelling, oral history and community participation. Developed by artists Hazel Greene and Christor, in collaboration with Birr Men Together, the project reimagined this important aspect of Ireland's oral heritage for a contemporary audience. Through recorded conversations, local stories and reflections inspired by traditional social gatherings, participants revisited the customs of sharing stories, memories and local knowledge while celebrating the enduring value of community storytelling.
Inclusive Heritage Award
The Inclusive Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made a special effort to share heritage with everyone in the community, including those who are new to heritage, those who do not have local roots, those who have additional accessibility needs and those of varying age categories.
Winner
Donegal Mela – Indian Culture Festival Letterkenny Sharmila Kamat, Donegal
Donegal Mela celebrated the rich cultural diversity of communities across Donegal through a vibrant three-day intercultural arts festival. Blending Irish traditions with global cultural influences, the festival created a welcoming and inclusive space where people of all ages could connect through creativity, performance and shared experiences.
Hosted across several of Letterkenny's cultural venues, the programme featured dance, music, community art, workshops and family-friendly activities. Through cultural exchange, creative collaboration and meaningful participation, Donegal Mela strengthened social connections while celebrating both cultural diversity and shared local heritage.
Runners-Up
Sanctuary in Nature & Heritage with Chester Beatty Museum Workshop at St Patrick's Cathedral and Phoenix Park Walk Sanctuary in Nature & Heritage, Dublin City
This inclusive National Heritage Week event invited participants from diverse backgrounds to explore Ireland's cultural, built and natural heritage through a day of guided visits, workshops and shared experiences. The project demonstrated how heritage can bring people together while fostering a greater sense of belonging and connection to place.
Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills 2026 Common Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Living CLG, Clare
Returning to North Clare for its fourth year, the Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills celebrated living heritage, traditional knowledge and intergenerational skill sharing through workshops, performances and community events. Bringing together craftspeople, musicians, storytellers and heritage practitioners, the festival created opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn from one another and celebrate the living traditions of County Clare.
Irish Language Award An Gradam Gaeilge
Bronntar an Gradam Gaeilge ar imeacht a thit amach trí Ghaeilge nó ina ndearnadh iarracht speisialta gníomhaíocht nó rannpháirtíocht i nGaeilge a spreagadh.
The Irish Language Award is awarded to an event that took place through the Irish language or made a special effort to encourage participation or activity in the Irish language.
Winner
Voices of Dún Chaocháin: Recordings from the Early 1990s Comhar Dún Chaocháín, Mayo
Rinne an t-imeacht seo ceiliúradh ar chaomhnú bailiúcháin ar leith de thaifeadtaí staire béil a thugann léargas ar an saol, ar an teanga agus ar na traidisiúin in iarthuaisceart Mhaigh Eo. Trí chur i láthair poiblí agus rogha taifeadtaí, tugadh deis do dhaoine éisteacht le guthanna nach raibh teacht gan stró orthu le breis agus tríocha bliain.
Leag an tionscadal béim ar a thábhachtaí atá sé bailiúcháin chultúrtha leochaileacha a chaomhnú agus a chinntiú ag an am céanna go mbeidh an oidhreacht luachmhar Ghaeilge seo ar fáil do na glúnta atá le teacht.
Runners-Up
Cladaí Inis Meáin Pleanáil Teanga Inis Meáin, Galway
Rinne Cladaí Inis Meáin ceiliúradh ar oidhreacht shaibhir chósta Inis Meáin trí leabhrán dátheangach a sheoladh ina ndéantar fiosrú ar an bhfeamainn agus na sliogáin trá atá le fáil ar chladaí an oileáin. Leag an tionscadal béim ar na naisc idir an teanga, an bhithéagsúlacht agus oidhreacht an phobail.
Chuir an taispeántas grianghraif ó bhailiúchán Aodán Ó Conchúir i láthair agus thug sé léargas faoi leith ar mhuintir, áiteanna agus traidisiúin Chorca Dhuibhne. Trí rannpháirtíocht an phobail agus cartlann thábhachtach ghrianghrafadóireachta a chaomhnú, rinne an tionscadal ceiliúradh ar oidhreacht agus ar chomhchuimhne mhuintir na leithinse.
Wild Child Award
Wild Child Day takes place on the final Saturday of Heritage Week each year. The Wild Child Event Award is awarded to an event that successfully encouraged children and families to get outdoors and explore the natural heritage and biodiversity in their locality.
Winner
Wild Child Day Exploring Bugs, Flowers and a Fairy Lake Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park, Westmeath
This family-friendly event encouraged children and families to explore the fascinating biodiversity of a unique turlough habitat. Set around the park's much-loved fairy lake, participants were introduced to the wonders of a seasonal vanishing lake and the wide variety of wildlife it supports.
Through guided exploration and hands-on discovery, children developed a greater understanding of local biodiversity while enjoying an outdoor adventure in nature. The event encouraged curiosity, observation and a sense of connection with the natural world.
Runners-Up
Drawing from the Woods – Wild Child Day at Rinnagan Nature Reserve Native Woodland Trust, Roscommon
This family-friendly workshop combined creativity, nature and outdoor learning in a celebration of Ireland's native woodlands. Children and families explored woodland wildlife, learned about native trees and created artwork inspired by the surrounding landscape using natural materials.
So You Want to Be an Archaeologist? Hill of Tara Visitor Centre, Meath
This hands-on workshop introduced children to the exciting world of archaeology. Through practical activities and guided exploration, participants discovered how archaeologists uncover clues about everyday life in the past while developing a greater appreciation for Ireland's archaeological heritage.
Water Heritage Award
The Water Heritage Award is awarded to a Water Heritage Day event that encourages the public to explore how waterways such as canals, rivers, lakes or sea shaped the heritage of a locality or celebrates water as an integral part of our natural heritage.
Winner
The Wellbeing of Our Water Heritage WiseWater Academy in partnership with Ballinspittle BEO, Cork
Organised by WiseWater Academy, The Wellbeing of Our Water Heritage celebrated the biodiversity and ecological importance of Garrylucas Wetland in County Cork. Held as part of Water Heritage Day, the event brought together families and local communities to explore the relationship between healthy wetlands, thriving wildlife and community wellbeing.
Through biodiversity talks, interactive displays and the launch of the Wellbeing of Our Water Heritage booklet, the project highlighted the importance of wetlands as places of environmental and community value.
Runners-Up
CALM Waters by Monaghan Hills Killanny Reaghstown Group Water Scheme, Monaghan
Held at Monalty Lake, this event highlighted the important role waterways play in supporting communities, biodiversity and local heritage. Talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities encouraged people to consider the role they can play in protecting local waterways.
Wildlife Celebration on the Green – Mullaghmore Donegal Bay Trust, Sligo
This lively community event invited families and visitors to explore the rich natural heritage of Donegal Bay through interactive exhibits and opportunities to engage with marine biologists and wildlife ecologists. The event promoted a greater appreciation of local ecosystems and the importance of protecting them for future generations.
Sustainability & Climate Award
The Sustainability and Climate Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made efforts to incorporate environmentally friendly practices to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the natural world or provided education on climate change and good sustainability practices.
Winner
The River Remembers: Stories of Salmon and Stewardship on the Coomhola River StreamScapes, Cork
The River Remembers celebrated the natural heritage, history and community connections associated with one of Ireland's Blue Dot rivers. Combining oral history, documentary filmmaking and citizen science, the project explored the relationship between the Coomhola River and the generations of people who have lived and worked alongside it.
At the heart of the event was the premiere of a documentary featuring local residents, anglers, farmers, conservationists and schoolchildren. Through their stories, the project highlighted the importance of understanding and protecting rivers while inspiring environmental stewardship.
Runners-Up
Traditional Field Gates of Shercock – Looking Back, to Look Forward Shercock Tidy Towns, Cavan
This project explored the heritage value of traditional field gates in east Cavan, documenting the gates themselves along with the stories, memories and local knowledge associated with them. By combining research, storytelling and conservation, the project celebrated an often-overlooked aspect of rural heritage.
Mealagh Valley Hidden Heritage Trail Launch Mealagh Valley Community Centre Ltd, Cork
The launch of the Mealagh Valley Hidden Heritage Trail celebrated an innovative community project combining local history, folklore, biodiversity and storytelling. By combining digital interpretation with oral history and community participation, the project created a lasting resource encouraging residents and visitors alike to explore the heritage of the Mealagh Valley.
The Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh / Intangible Cultural Heritage Award
The Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh – Gradam Dúchais celebrates Ireland's Intangible Cultural Heritage and is awarded to an event or project that encouraged a greater appreciation of crafts, skills, customs and practices.
Winner
Voices in Stewardship: Celebrating West Cork's New Oral Heritage Hubs West Cork Oral Heritage, Cork
This event celebrated the establishment of more than ten new community oral heritage hubs across West Cork. Representatives from each hub presented their work and shared newly recorded audio excerpts, offering audiences a unique insight into the cultural heritage of the region.
The project demonstrated how community stewardship and oral history can help preserve local knowledge, stories and traditions for future generations.
Runners-Up
Tales of the Estuary – The Cockle Women Re-Enactment Passage East and Crooke Development Association in conjunction with Waterford Estuary Villages Alliance, Waterford
This community performance celebrated the history of the women who once gathered and sold cockles along the River Suir. Performed by members of The Minaun Community Theatre Group, including descendants of the Cockle Women themselves, the re-enactment explored the working lives, resilience and contribution of these remarkable women.
Song of the Scythe The Acorn Project, Kilkenny
This unique festival celebrated traditional land skills, biodiversity, music and community through the practice of scything. By combining practical skills, music and storytelling, the event highlighted an important element of Ireland's intangible cultural heritage while encouraging knowledge-sharing across generations.
Special Merit Award
The Heritage Council introduced the Special Merit Award in 2025 to recognise an event that demonstrated exceptional effort, creativity and originality in engaging people with heritage, but which was not shortlisted for a National Award.
Recipient
Amhráin agus Scéalta in Carrowkeel – An Immersive Musical Walk Queer Shed Sligo
Amhráin agus Scéalta in Carrowkeel brought participants on a musical and storytelling journey through the archaeological landscape of Carrowkeel in County Sligo. Through traditional songs, stories and conversation, the event explored the connections between language, place and cultural heritage.
The walk welcomed participants with a wide range of Irish-language abilities, creating a relaxed and inclusive environment where everyone felt comfortable taking part. Through music, storytelling and participation, the project celebrated the Irish language while encouraging new audiences to engage with it in a meaningful and accessible way.
