National Heritage Week 2023 takes place this year from Saturday 12th to 20th August. A colourful range of events and projects celebrating all aspects of heritage will take place across County Sligo as communities, families, holiday makers and people of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to get out and explore their heritage.
Heritage Week is coordinated nationally by The Heritage Council in partnership with the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network 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 ‘Living Heritage’ which is defined as the practices, knowledge and skills that have been passed from one generation to the next and are still in use today.
Some event highlights in Sligo this year include: A Tour of Sligo Abbey with Dr. Kieran O’Conor; Bridges of the Unshin – A talk by Gary Salter; A tour of Coopershill House, Riverstown; Thatching: A demonstration of Techniques, Use of Tools and Materials; a Rathcormac Biodiversity Walk led by Micheal Bell of Nature Learn; a Bat Walk along the Garavogue River in the company of Ruth Hanniffy, Sligo Biodiversity Officer; a talk on The Battle of Carrignagat in 1798 and, Making Harvest Knot Workshops at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. Details of all Heritage Week events happening across the county are available on www.heritageweek.ie .
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, 19th August. Water Heritage Day will take place on Sunday, 20th 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 2023. 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 20th 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.
Siobhan Ryan, Heritage Officer with Sligo County Council 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.”
Source: Sligo County Council
