National Heritage Hero 2023 Announced

The Heritage Council has announced Carlow native Brigid Fox as its 2023 Heritage Hero ahead of the annual National Heritage Week awards ceremony in Gloster House, Offaly, on Friday October 20th. The award is one of seven to be announced at the ceremony across a range of categories with a total of 17 National Heritage Week events shortlisted for an award. See the full shortlist here.

Originally from St Mullins in Carlow, Brigid Fox is a former principal of Kilmyshall National School and has been an advocate for local history and heritage in Carlow for over 20 years. She is being honoured with the 2023 Heritage Hero award for her outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage over that time.

Brigid is a driving force behind the revival of Borris Lace and has worked tirelessly on Heritage Week events, 1916 commemorations, and events celebrating the living history of Myshall. Her contribution to Carlow’s natural heritage is also significant and she was instrumental in the Drummin Bog Project which aims to restore the only raised bog in the county.

She played a central role in the development of the Columban Way pilgrim walk in Carlow which allows visitors to walk in the footsteps of St Columbanus who was born at the foot of Mount Leinster. She is also secretary of Myshall Muintir Na Tíre, an active member in the Public Participation Network (PPN) and the Carlow Heritage Forum.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, said:

“As one of my own constituents, I have been aware of Brigid and her excellent work for many years both as a teacher and a heritage practitioner, and I am thrilled to see her win this award. She is synonymous with St Mullins and Myshall, where she has managed countless heritage projects over the years, particularly when Carlow was without a heritage officer. For that, and for countless other contributions, she absolutely deserves this recognition and our gratitude.”

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony on Friday, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council Virginia Teehan said:

“Every day in my work as CEO of the Heritage Council, I encounter brilliant people doing incredible things to protect our national heritage. Very often, they are not the kinds of people who go out of their way to seek awards or recognition. They do what they do because they believe it is important to preserve and celebrate heritage. This perfectly describes our Heritage Hero for 2023, Brigid Fox whose contribution to heritage in Carlow is being rightly acknowledged on Friday.”


The National Heritage Week awards ceremony can be livestreamed from the website on Friday from 3.45pm: www.heritageweek.ie/awards