Announcing the 2025 National Heritage Week National Finalists
The 2025 National Heritage Week Awards recognise the work of National Heritage Week event organisers in creating and running events that highlight our built, natural and cultural heritage. took place all over Ireland for National Heritage Week.
Every year, event organisers from across Ireland bring their passion and expertise to create memorable and inspiring heritage experiences for the public during National Heritage Week. In 2025, over 2,500 events took place nationwide as communities embrace the Heritage Council’s invitation to explore this year’s theme, “Exploring Our Foundations.” These events highlight a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating Ireland’s heritage.
We are delighted to announce the shortlisted events across several award categories, each representing an outstanding contribution to Ireland’s heritage.
The winners of all categories will be unveiled at the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony on 17th October 2025, which will be live-streamed on heritageweek.ie. We look forward to celebrating the extraordinary efforts of those dedicated to safeguarding and promoting our shared heritage.
The categories and shortlisted events for 2025 are as follows:
Exploring Our Foundations Award
This award reflects the 2025 theme “Exploring Our Foundations” and celebrates projects that looked at the roots of our shared heritage — the stories, traditions, and places that ground us and connect us to the past.
Echoes of Athlone
Connaught Street & Environs Group (Westmeath)
Michael Dwyer 200 – Bi-Centenary of Michael Dwyer’s Death
Michael Dwyer 200 Committee & Arklow Municipal District (Wicklow)
A.K. ILEN, Ireland’s last wooden ocean-going ship
Sailing Into Wellness (Cork)
Intangible Cultural Heritage Award- The Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Award
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that encouraged a greater appreciation of an element of our intangible cultural heritage - crafts, skills, customs and practices.
Kilkee Currach Presentation and Regatta
West Clare Currach Club (Clare)
Celebrating Irish Road Bowling at Ballyvolane House
Ballyvolane House (Cork)
The Maharees/Castlegregory Onion Basket Revival
Maharees Conservation Association (Kerry)
Irish Language Award
This award recognises events that celebrated and promoted the Irish language, showcasing its central role in Ireland’s heritage.
Cill Dara le Gaeilge (Kildare)
Ár mBunchlocha a Fhiosrú – Oidhreacht Dholáimhsithe
The Museum of Childhood Ireland/Músaem Óige na hÉireann (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown)
Toibreacha Beannaithe Chontae na Gaillimhe
Galway County Council (Galway)
Inclusive Event Award
This award recognises events that placed inclusivity at their heart, ensuring that heritage could be experienced and enjoyed by as wide and diverse an audience as possible.
The Photographic Collections of the Parish of the Travelling People
Parish of the Travelling People (Dublin)
Mealagh Valley Heritage Day
Mealagh Valley Community Centre (Cork)
Commemorative 200th Anniversary of the Construction of the Low Road
Tubberclare Local Action Group (TLAC) (Westmeath)
Water Heritage Award
This award celebrates projects and events that explored, celebrated, and protected Ireland’s waterways, recognising the importance of rivers, lakes, canals, and coasts in our heritage. Supported by Local Authorities Water Programme (LAWPRO)
‘Spirit of the Water’ – An evening of music and spoken word at the Tin Church Laragh
Friends of the Upper Annalee (Monaghan)
Paddling the Past – A Heritage Kayak Tour of the River Bride
Conna Community Council (Cork)
For the Love of Bats
Ballycumber Tidy Towns and Freshwater Ballycumber Brosna (Offaly)
Wild Child Award
This award highlights events that encouraged children and families to get outdoors, explore nature, and discover the joy of Ireland’s wildlife and landscapes. The Wild Child Award is awarded in partnership with the First 5 programme from The Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Shoreline Marine Creature Survey
Sea Synergy (Kerry)
Bilingual Heritage Tour of Dún Laoghaire Harbour for Families
Moontour (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown)
Wild Child Day – All About Otters
Maigue Rivers Trust (Limerick)
Sustainability & Climate Award
This award highlights heritage projects that placed sustainability and biodiversity at their heart, addressing climate change and protecting our environment for the future.
Leitrim Environmental Network (Leitrim)
Foraging from Land to Sea on Bere Island
Bere Island Projects Group CLG (Cork)
Native Woodland Re-Establishments
Woodlands of Ireland (Sligo)
The winners will be announced at the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony on 17th October 2025, which will be live-streamed on heritageweek.ie.
We warmly congratulate all the shortlisted projects and thank everyone who contributed to National Heritage Week 2025. Your creativity, commitment, and love of heritage ensure that Ireland’s story continues to inspire and connect us all.
