Announcing the 2025 National Heritage Week National Finalists

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.

Ceardlann Tógála Bád

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.

Gardening for Wildlife Event

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.