Water Heritage Day is Sunday, 23rd August and is a collaboration between The Heritage Council and the Local Authority Waters Programme to celebrate water and our connections with it.
This year’s National Heritage Week theme 'Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage' has been an opportunity to consider how exploring and engaging with aspects of our natural, built or cultural heritage can be a source of learning, and how it can give us fascinating insights into our past, tell us about the present, and provide us with fresh ideas for the future.
As an island nation, our heritage has been shaped by the sea and the great Irish rivers, lakes and wetlands. This year we have a number of projects that explore water heritage and the importance water has played, and continues to play, in how we live.
Here is a selection of projects to encourage you to dip your toe in this element of our heritage.
You can search all the completed projects here.
Sunday, 23rd August at 11am
The Local Authority Waters Programme works with local authorities, public bodies, stakeholders and local communities to protect, maintain and improve water quality in our natural waters. On Water Heritage Day 2020, it will launch its new publication ‘Stories from the waterside’.
The national story writing competition received almost 500 entries from across the island of Ireland. At the virtual event, local winners will read their stories. It will include English and Irish language entries. Pre-registration required. Email roconchuir@lawaters.ie for your personal Zoom invite.
Watch this video to find out more:
Cuan Beo CLG’s heritage project looks at native oyster dredging in Galway Bay and includes a video with PJ Martin, who started fishing oysters in 1975. Find out more…
Sunday, August 23rd at 11am
An online event taking place on Water Heritage Day. Journey with Valerie Vetter, Dublin City FM community radio presenter and Kaethe Burt O'Dea, Creative Director, Bí Urban, along the route formerly taken by the Royal Canal, Broombridge to Broadstone to explore how the heritage of urban waterways can inform sustainable regeneration. Find out more...
Take a trip along the Grand Canal and listen to this sound artwork. As you walk, you hear the words, thoughts and stories from a variety of voices from the present and the past of the Grand Canal. Find out more...
Check out this video looking at the water heritage of Killaloe, County Clare. The video explores the waterside history of the twin towns of Killaloe/Ballina, where Lough Derg meets the River Shannon, and provides a glimpse of the water activity in Killaloe today, which is still a bustling riverside centre. Find out more...
Take a virtual tour of the Copper Coast in County Waterford with archaeologists from the Discovery Programme: Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland. Explore the maritime history of this fascinating coastline, filled with promontory forts, shipwrecks, mining heritage and sea routes, through the eyes of maritime archaeologist. Find out more...
The Galway County Biodiversity Project has shared this video to highlight the importance of water and watery places for people and nature. The video is aimed at supporting community groups working on projects in or near water and highlights important points to note if you are working with or near water. Find out more...
The efforts of individuals, families and community groups from across the island to ensure the preservation, protection and promotion of Ireland’s built, natural and cultural heritage were recognised at the National Heritage Awards 2020. Hosted by the Heritage Council, the event took place virtually and was presented by RTÉ broadcaster, Anne Cassin.
The efforts of individuals, families and community groups across Ireland to ensure the preservation, protection and promotion of Ireland’s built, natural and cultural heritage were recognised at this year's National Heritage Awards.
