Heritage for a more resilient future: National Heritage Week begins this Saturday

Dig, plant and play at a family biodiversity day in Myshall, Co Carlow; feel the heat at a blacksmith demonstration in Cappamore, Co Limerick; walk in the footsteps of ancient peoples at the Beltany stone circle in Co Donegal; or enjoy a rare behind-the-scenes look at conservation work at the Trinity College Dublin Library. This is just a flavour of the wide-ranging events taking place across Ireland that will allow people to get hands-on with heritage as part of National Heritage Week 2022, which kicks off this Saturday, 13th August and runs until Sunday, 21st August.

In-person event and digital project organisers have responded with enthusiasm to this year’s theme of sustainability and biodiversity, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds from across Ireland to learn more about Ireland’s built, cultural and natural heritage, helping to ensure its preservation and protection into the future. The Heritage Council is calling on heritage newcomers, enthusiasts and experts alike to consider how they might encourage and promote sustainability in their own lives during National Heritage Week and beyond.

With more than 1,300 events and projects currently listed on the National Heritage Week website, the Heritage Council is encouraging people to visit www.heritageweek.ie to see what events are taking place in their locality or across the country, should they be holidaying at home this year. Participants can browse the website and create a bespoke National Heritage Week ‘Events Trail’ to help them plan their week according to their location, their particular heritage interests and their preferred event type, such as a festival, performance, exhibition or re-enactment.

Some highlights from this year's National Heritage Week programme include:

• Blacksmith Demonstration, Co. Clare: See firsthand how farm tools are made, hear about the history of the blacksmith profession in Ireland and understand how skills were nurtured and passed on from generation to generation. More…
• Myshall Community Family Biodiversity Day, Co. Carlow: Explore the rich biodiversity found within the beautiful heritage garden spaces of Myshall at this biodiversity event taking place for Wild Child Day. More…
• Feathers and Features of an Indian Manuscript: Conservation Internship Experiences at the Chester Beatty, Co. Dublin: Learn more about the diverse materials used in conservation, before looking in more detail at the Tutinama, or Tales of the Parrot, the famous book of Indian stories, made for the Mughal emperor Akbar. More…
• The Mysteries of Beltany Stone Circle, Co. Donegal: Explore the landscape of an ancient people, trace their footsteps over thousands of years and consider the lives of these early farming communities. More…
• Árann Folklore Collection: Twenty Years of Growth, Co. Galway: Celebrate the wisdom gathered by the Árann Folklore Collection for more than 20 years and explore the rich history contained within. More…
• Beekeeping for Biodiversity, Co. Leitrim: Learn aspects of beekeeping and its benefits for biodiversity and the environment. Explore the history of beekeeping and how to pass the tradition down through generations. More…
• Corock River field trip, Co. Wexford: Fish in the river Corock, discover the world of wonder that exists on the river bed, see what life forms there are to discover and then use your results to estimate what the water quality is likely to be. More…
• Behind the Scenes in Trinity College Dublin’s Library Conservation Department, Dublin: Take this rare opportunity to visit the conservation studios of Trinity College Library and get insight into current conservation projects. More…

Chief Executive of the Heritage Council of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehan said: "This year, National Heritage Week looks to the past to create a better future. The theme of sustainable heritage and biodiversity encourages us all to reflect on how our history and heritage can play a part in protecting our planet. Whether it’s learning a new skill like embroidery, blacksmithing or pottery making; better understanding how to prevent biodiversity loss in our own back gardens or country lanes; or gaining fresh insight into the history of our art, music or the Irish language and sharing this knowledge among friends and family, there are endless ways to get involved. I would encourage people to visit the National Heritage Week website and browse the vast array of events and projects taking place and plan their week. I would like to thank all in-person event and digital project organisers for their enthusiasm and dedication, and wish them the very best as National Heritage Week approaches.”

Two themed days will take place during National Heritage Week. On Saturday, 20th August, Wild Child Day invites children to go outside and explore Ireland’s natural heritage and biodiversity in a fun and enjoyable way. The Heritage Council is encouraging children to look at the world around them differently, to open their eyes to the diverse beauty of the landscape in their area and to explore their locality or even further afield. On Sunday, 21st August, as part of Water Heritage Day, the Heritage Council and the Local Authority Waters Programme invite people to participate in National Heritage Week events that celebrate water and our connections with it.

Coordinated by the Heritage Council since 2005, National Heritage Week has become one of Ireland's largest cultural events. It is supported by the Local Authority Heritage Officer network and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.