As part of the National Heritage Week Awards ceremony, the winners of the county awards for the entire island were announced. These are event or projects that are recognised as the best events in each county where individuals, community groups, charity's and other groups created and run created events to ensure the preservation and promotion of Ireland's natural, built and cultural heritage. Explore the fill list of winners here.
CAVAN The Spirit of Kilmore Choirs, soloists, the Mullaghboy Accordion Band, uillean piper Daniel Brady and reed organ restorer Fr Darragh Connolly provided beautiful music in the beautiful surrounds of Kilmore cathedral.
The Spirit of Kilmore event
CLARE Clarecastle and Ballyea Our Living Heritage Clarecastle and Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Group organised an exhibition celebrating 60 years of Tidy Towns which included a guided viewing of historic Barntick House and a display of ancient farm machinery.
CORK COUNTY Big American Swim The American Pier Cobh Association’s Big American Swim focused attention on the US presence in Cobh during WW1 and the “American pier” which has been focal point for outdoor recreation in the town ever since.
DERRY Online programme of virtual tours, videos and exhibitions to celebrate local heritage and history A full programme of online events exploring various aspects of local heritage and history of Derry. The programme included virtual tours, exploring the city walls, historic cannons and more.
DONEGAL Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Experience Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter organised a ‘Walking History Tour’ of Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter, a part of the town with a rich history filled with characters brought back to life for Heritage Week through tales and costumed actors.
DOWN Cursai Gaeilge Two Irish Language evening events take place for anyone attending to improve their Irish. One event for Adult Total Beginners, with Dr. Niall Comer (University of Ulster) and the other (delivered through Irish) for those seeking to practise Irish in a total immersion environment, with Séamus Mac Dhaibhéid.
DUBLIN CITY The Liberties Weavers Walking Tour The Liberties Weavers’ event showcased Dublin’s Liberties as a centre of textile production stretching back more than 1000 years, a little-known fact explored in a guided walk of the area.
DUBLIN – DÚN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN Tour around Rathdown Union Workhouse and Graveyard An informative walking tour by local historian Billy Byrne outside of the Rathdown Union Workhouse –now better known as Loughlinstown Hospital – and including the workhouse graveyard.
GALWAY CITY Dry Stonewalling Workshops, Galway Friends of Merlin Woods organised stonewall workshops led by Fergus Packman, one of Ireland’s top stone masons.
KERRY Asdee Water Heritage This from Asdee Community Development explored the history of the Kerry village, from its first settlers to how it got its name, including a look at all the wildlife on Littor strand, where the Asdee River meets the Shannon.
KILDARE Ballitore Library, Museum and Market House Conservator Damien Condon of Calx Restoration hosted engaging talks about the history of the community library and museum in Ballitore and on the development of the Market House in Ballitore, including a demonstration of lime render techniques.
KILKENNY The Song of the Scythe The Acorn Project’s day of scything and a farmland pollinator walks included a workshop on how to set up your scythe for success, and achieve a good mowing technique.
LAOIS 20th Century Walking Tour of Portlaoise NIAH A tour of some of the 20th century buildings of Portlaoise that often do not receive the attention they deserve including the only round house in the county d the county Hospital.
LEITRIM The Half of the Moon and the Whole of the Hill Mohill Historical Society and Friends invited all to discover Mohill through its music, songs, poetry and stories, with a traditional singer and guide taking them on an entertaining walk through town.
ROSCOMMON The Wrought Iron Farm Gate Farming Rathcroghan provided a talk on Ireland’s traditional wrought iron farm gate, exploring its role in our farming landscape, and as “totem poles” of past land wars.
SLIGO Thatching: A demonstration of techniques, tools and materials Sligo Field Club gave us opportunity to find out more about this most traditional of roof coverings led by Susanne Bojkovsky, who completed her thatcher’s apprenticeship decades ago.
TIPPERARY Bianconi Carriage Drive Cahir Social and Historical Society organised a convoy of horse-drawn carriages from the transport hub of the Bianconi network, Hearn’s Hotel in Clonmel.
WESTMEATH Connaught Street History and Heritage Walk Connaught Street and environs traders – and residents – organised an event which saw historian Gearoid O’Brien take participants on a walking tour to learn more about this historic part of town.
WEXFORD Castletown River and Nature Festival 2023 Friends of Ahare River Biodiversity Group held a number of festival events including a bat walk, a conference on river and farm-based biodiversity, and an exhibition of children’s stories.
WICKLOW 200 Years of Ballyknockan – a living history A fascinating guided tour of Ballyknockan by eighth generation stonecutters the O’Flaherty family. Ballyknockan is known as The Granite Village or The Skeleton of Dublin because of its role in many of Ireland’s historical buildings.
