National Heritage Week started on Saturday August 15th and is running right through to Sunday, 23rd August. This year’s theme is 'Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage’, so RTÉ Learn is a good place to get a heads up on what to see and do!
This is your chance to explore the heritage around you. You can relearn skills from our past, discover what school was like for your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, research the role your local river or canal played in the growth of your town or city - there is so much to discover!
To help guide you on your heritage journey, here is a small sample of the Heritage Week projects...
Meet Young Explorer Neil Hyland
Check out 12-year-old Neil Hyland's video at the top of this article. It is one of a series he made where he explores his local area of Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Delivered online, through a website and social media channels the Young Explorer project visits and uncovers the local history of 1300 year old Stone Forts at Caherdaniel, World War 2 Look Out Posts at Lamb's Head and the Underwater Marine Life of Wild Derrynane.
The project idea originated as a result of a school project during the lockdown phase of the pandemic. The family had a conversation about making a short film series about the local built and natural heritage with Neil as presenter and narrator.
They did everything from the music, to audio, filming, editing, post production, website design and digital dissemination of the project.So far, the project has received over 10,000 views online from local, national and international audiences.
Neil and his family will be featured on RTÉ Nationwide in the coming months, so tune in!
Make your own hand-bell
Use the video to discover how you can make and decorate your own hand bell at home using scrap paper, cut up card, and jam jar lids.
You can also learn about St Patrick, the hand-bell associated with him though dating to the 8th century, and its shrine from the 12th century. Both are on display as part of the Treasury Exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology.
The 'Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage' exhibition, due to open in September 2020, will feature a never before displayed hand-bell, dating to the 8th-9th century that was found in a grave at Knockatemple, close to Glendalough, during the 19th century.
It has been restored by the Conservation Department at NMI, prior to going on display.
Did you know that biodiversity is part of our heritage?
During the COVID-19 lockdown, a group of young people from Laois create a series of videos about their sense of place. In this video, they show how their local biodiversity – the plants and wildlife nearby, inspire them.
For more information and to see the rest of videos click HERE
Need further inspiration?
Take a look at the completed projects for National Heritage Week 2020 and find lots of online events, videos, and heritage walks visit https://www.heritageweek.ie/projects.
