National Heritage Week 2024 takes place this year from 17th to 25th August 2024. A colourful range of events and projects celebrating all aspects of our heritage will take place across County Sligo.
The Countdown is on for Heritage Week in Sligo
At the launch of Heritage Week 2024 at City Hall, Sligo were (L to R) Frank Moylan, Senior Planner, Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer, Dorothy Clarke, Director of Service, Cllr. Declan Bree, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Cllr. Dónal Gilroy, Chair, Sligo Heritage Forum, Wendy Lyons, Vice-Chair Sligo Heritage Forum, Siobhán Ryan, A/Senior Heritage Officer and Mark Gaynor, Clerical Officer). Photo Donal Hackett.
Heritage Week is coordinated nationally by The Heritage Council in partnership with the Local Authority Heritage Teams and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. National Heritage Week has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events, celebrating Ireland’s built, natural and cultural heritage and aiming to generate awareness, appreciation and preservation of our wonderful heritage resource.
The theme for National Heritage Week this year is ‘Connections, Routes & Networks’ and invites us all to explore the links between heritage, people and communities, to look at what brings us together and what connects us.
National Heritage Week will also see the continued celebration of themed heritage days, when project organisers can develop specific themed activities. On Wild Child Day, The Heritage Council encourages kids and families to make the most of the outdoors to explore the heritage in their locality and beyond. This year’s Wild Child Day will take place on Saturday, 24th August.
Water Heritage Day will take place on Sunday, 25th August as a collaboration between The Heritage Council and the Local Authority Waters Programme. As an island nation, our history and heritage have been shaped by the sea and the great Irish rivers, lakes and wetlands. Water Heritage Day will highlight projects that celebrate water and our connections with it.
It’s not too late to get involved in Heritage Week 2024. Events and completed digital projects can still be uploaded via the organiser’s portal at www.heritageweek.ie right up to the final day on Sunday 25th August. For those creating in-person events, you are encouraged to register your event as soon as possible to allow time for promotion of the event. For more details and inspiration see www.heritageweek.ie.
Launching National Heritage Week in Sligo, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Declan Bree outlined:
‘We are encouraging everyone to get involved and to support the efforts of the many individuals and groups who have organised events for National Heritage Week in County Sligo. The success of Heritage Week is wholly dependent on all the event organisers across the county, who are enthusiastic, committed and volunteer their time in order to make Heritage Week in Sligo the great success it is. Without their interest, hard work and voluntary commitment this week would not be possible’.
Cllr. Dónal Gilroy, Chair of Sligo Heritage Forum added:
‘Heritage Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate and share the best of Sligo’s built, natural and cultural heritage, whether it is attending a talk, going for a guided walk or visiting a local heritage site. This is just the beginning though. As most of the Heritage sites celebrated during Heritage Week are open all year-round. The museums of the County, many built heritage sites and wildlife areas are all there to be explored at any time.’
Want to find out more?
Updates and details of Heritage Week events nationally are available on www.heritageweek.ie. While regular Heritage Week updates for Sligo will be posted on the Sligo Heritage Office facebook page.