National Heritage Week 2021 runs from Saturday, 14 August to Sunday, 22 August and you can find something for everyone right here.
Local heritage groups, organisers, families, communities and individuals responded to this year's call to 'Open the door to heritage’ and have created projects that are free for everyone to explore throughout the week.
The event, organised by the The Heritage Council, has over 700 projects online and in-person to showcase.
More will be added throughout the week and you can keep up to date with all the projects HERE.
On Wednesday, 18 August there it's Wild Child Day. The idea is that kids and families to drop the devices, jump off the couch and get outdoors! Keep an eye on RTÉ Learn for more on this...
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the majority of the events this year will be taking place online, but there are some in-person events. Click here to check if there are any near you!
Highlights from this year's National Heritage Week programme include:
Pavee Roads Home: This project explores Traveller culture and heritage through the lens of history and geography. This charts the journey of three Traveller families from the West of Ireland to Dublin City, showing how Travellers contributed to life in Ireland and abroad.
Currachs Past, Currachs Future: Learn about the traditions, history and folklore surrounding currachs on the bank of the Boyne, and offers visitors a chance to help to carve a currach paddle.
Come Dine with 18th Century Me: Step back in time and take a light-hearted look at 1780's Cork comparing 18th century and contemporary urban life through the medium of a dinner party.
#ForNature: A key part of Heritage Week is celebrating the natural world around us and there are lots of projects on nature and biodiversity
Have a look at this amazing video and click HERE to see the projects on natural landscapes, wildlife, habitats and biodiversity.
Seashore Safari with Sea Synergy: Take a tour of the Inny Strand Beach in Waterville County Kerry.
It starts with mindfulness and is followed by a tour of rocks pools, ocean literacy and beach games, concluding with a beach clean.
Carlingford's medieval monuments through Mandarin: The built heritage of the medieval town of Carlingford is made accessible to Mandarin speakers in this project. It covers massive moments in hirosry for, the Vikings, the Normans and the Williamite Wars plus lots more.
Botanical Art Workshop - Hedgerow Wild & Beautiful: Paint the colours and shapes of late-summer hedgerows in this one-day online botanical watercolour course, suitable for beginners and improvers.
Phoenix Cricket Club - Heritage and History: This is a chance to learn more about Ireland’s oldest sporting club Phoenix Cricket Club.
Find out about its colour and characters over the centuries, from its founding in 1830 by Charles Stewart Parnell's father, through the bombing by the Nazis, to the first female president in the Park and up to its present culturally diverse club.
National Heritage Week is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is generously supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Landmark Trust, the Local Authority Water Programme and the Office of Public Works.
At county level, National Heritage Week is co-ordinated and supported by local authority heritage officers, their colleagues and with numerous local heritage groups and organisations.
For more information go www.heritageweek.ie
The Heritage Council was established under the Heritage Act 1995 with responsibility to propose policies and priorities for the national heritage. It works in cooperation with a range of agencies, communities and individuals to promote education, enjoyment and understanding of our national heritage.
For further information go to www.heritagecouncil.ie
