Sustainability: Preserving our past for our future

No matter what type of heritage you intend to focus on for your event or digital project, you may wish to consider the following ideas on these themes.

Sustainable heritage
The theme of sustainable heritage is an invitation to organisers think about how we can conserve our rich built, cultural and natural heritage in order to develop a more sustainable future. How can we connect with the skills and traditions of the past and pass them to the next generation? As a part of your event or project, think about researching a particular part of Irish history that may shed light on Irish society today. Or perhaps there is a craft, skill or story that has been passed down in your family or community that you can capture and share with a new group of people. Take a look at a few events and projects from 2021 for more inspiration on sustainable heritage:

• The Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin chose a selection of images from Jewish life in Ireland over the past 130 years and presented them in a PowerPoint. The images are taken from one of the many albums in the collection currently being catalogued and digitised for easier access in the future. More...
• Bunratty Castle and Folk Park engaged audiences with a traditional thatching demonstration, discussing the heritage of the craft, the local materials required and its use in Irish buildings today. More...
• In an online workshop, Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, presented Munnix dancing, a style that originated in Kerry in the 1700s and remains strong through the present. More...

Biodiversity
This theme invites organisers to foster a greater appreciation of the natural world, to look at the variety of plant and animal life in their locality, and conserve native species and natural landscapes. In a world in which climate change is affecting every part of our lives, biodiversity is particularly important to promote and maintain. These 2021 events and projects may give you some ideas for heritage topics to explore like native species research, sustainable farming practices and urban greening:

• The Nore River Catchment Trust celebrated Wild Child Day with a talk on the eels of the River Nore, discussing their life cycle, migration patterns and place in local ecosystems. More...
• Bí URBAN presented a video on their Stoneybatter Rain Garden Pilot in Dublin in order to develop a nature-based solution to three urban problems — lack of biodiversity, access to nature and overrun urban drainage. More...
• The Irish Uplands Forum led a biodiversity walk on the Hill of Howth, showcasing the local plants and habitats as well as the conservation measures that have been taken to protect this unique environment. More...

If you’re a first-time organiser, you may be wondering where to begin. As you think about what sort of heritage you would like to explore, take a look at our Useful Links page, where you’ll find dozens of nationally renowned cultural, built and natural heritage resources. From the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Irish Historic Houses Association to the Irish Wildlife Trust, there’s much to discover about sustainability, biodiversity and beyond.