National Heritage Week 2024 Launch

Celebrating Connections Routes and Networks

The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, launched the 25th edition of National Heritage Week, which takes place nationwide from Saturday, 17th to Sunday 25th August 2024. This year’s theme, Connections, Routes, and Networks will explore the many ways we are linked through our heritage – from physical pathways like roads, canals, and trails to cultural ties through family, pastimes, history and traditions.

Speaking in Connolly Station before travelling by steam train to Drogheda and Beaulieu House, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage, and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, expressed his excitement ahead of Heritage Week this summer:

"National Heritage Week does such an exceptional job of binding together in one festival Ireland's built, natural, and cultural heritage. The awareness and appreciation of heritage that Heritage Week has been raising over the last 25 years has done wonders for heritage, helping to shape more informed views, to change hearts and minds and to preserve of our incredible resources. As Minister of State for Heritage, I am privileged to work with on an almost daily basis with the passionate individuals who run events every year and regularly witness firsthand the extraordinary efforts that people make to bring our heritage to life."

Chairperson of the Heritage Council Martina Moloney praised the crucial role of volunteers and community groups:
"Our volunteers and community groups are the foundation of this wonderful festival of heritage. Their dedication and generosity ensure the success of Heritage Week, offering diverse and enriching experiences for anybody with even a passing interest in heritage. The invaluable support of local authority heritage and biodiversity officers, who work tirelessly behind the scenes, also cannot be overstated. I want to thank all these contributors for the work they do not just in the run up to and during National Heritage Week, but all year round."

Partners

The Heritage Council is grateful to partners The National Lottery, Fáilte Ireland, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish Landmark Trust, the Local Authority Heritage and Biodiversity Officer Networks, and the Local Authority Waters Programme. The event would not be possible without their support.

Speaking at the launch, Jennifer Crowe, Head of Corporate Affairs at the National Lottery said: “The National Lottery is delighted to continue its partnership with The Heritage Council for this year's Heritage Week 2024.Through the Good Causes program, we value and appreciate the impact of the work carried out by the hundreds of amazing heritage groups every year who receive National Lottery funding through The Heritage Council. As a partner, we are so proud to shine a light on this wonderful initiative and the themed events that educate and inspire communities to connect and explore the many ways we are linked through heritage.”

Long-time partner Fáilte Ireland has come on board again as a partner in 2024. Mary Stack, Head of Attractions at Fáilte Ireland said: “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to once again support National Heritage Week which celebrates Ireland’s rich culture and heritage, which makes up an important part of our tourism offering. This year’s theme of ‘Connections, Routes, and Networks’ invites us to explore the many links heritage weaves through our lives. From developing walking and cycling trails that connect us to the incredible Irish landscape, to creating immersive visitor experiences that celebrate our ancient built and cultural heritage, Fáilte Ireland recognises the significant appeal of our unique heritage to visitors. We look forward to this year’s National Heritage Week programme of demonstrations, workshops, music, re-enactments, tours and talks which will create truly memorable cultural experiences for domestic and international visitors and locals across the country.”

Event Highlights

There are many events taking place across Ireland for National Heritage Week. Some highlights this year will include:

• An old-fashioned steam train journey from Dublin to Kilkenny on Sunday, August 18th, courtesy of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
• A workshop on repairing beautiful old stone walls in Galway with The Friends of Merlin Woods.
• The Festival of Lost Skills in Co. Clare on August 17th, where Common Knowledge will host a celebration of traditional music with a focus on heritage skills.
• The Woodstown Viking Festival on Saturday, August 25th, bringing Waterford’s most famous Viking site to life.

About National Heritage Week

Coordinated by the Heritage Council, National Heritage Week has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events. This year, a special Heritage Week supplement will be published in the Irish Times on Friday, August 16th, providing an in-depth look at specific events and the stories of the people behind them.

Join us in celebrating our rich heritage and discover the connections that unite us all during National Heritage Week 2024.