National Heritage Week kicks off in Louth this weekend
Well over 2,000 events will take place nationwide
Painting your own tiles at old Mellifont Abbey, celebrating 175 years of railways in Dundalk, tours of St. Nicholas Quarter and a beach clean and scavenger hunt at Clogherhead Beach are among the many free events taking place across Louth during National Heritage Week 2024, from Saturday August 17th to Sunday August 25th.
Local heritage groups and organisers, families, communities and individuals in Louth have responded to this year’s theme of ‘Connections, Routes and Networks’ by organising events showcasing the best of what Louth’s local heritage has to offer. Well over 2,000 events will take place nationwide with a full list available on the National Heritage Week website.
Coordinated by the Heritage Council, some other highlights from this year’s National Heritage Week programme in Louth also include:
A Turn for the Terns, Spirit Store, Dundalk Docks (25 August, 2.30pm to 4.30pm) - A talk entitled "A Turn for the Terns", followed by a walk of Dundalk quay wall and Navvy bank. The talk will introduce the audience to the most regular terns in Ireland and the walk will involve viewing them in their natural habitat.
Tours of Barmeath Castle and Gardens, Dunleer (17 – 25 August, 9am to 1pm) - Barmeath Castle stands proudly on a wooded hillside, looking out over 10 acres of park to the mountains of the Cooley Peninsula and the Irish Sea. The grounds include a lake, islands and a rustic rock bridge.
Hooley Booley Cooley, with events taking place at various locations throughout the Cooley peninsula between the 17th and 25th of August – These events will include a Céilí Mór, a country market, basic weaving demonstrations and workshops, hill walks and photographic demonstrations.
Commenting, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Virginia Teehansaid:
“Browsing through the over 2,000 events taking place during National Heritage Week this year gives a sense of the sheer variety and colour of our nation’s heritage – they cover nature, culture, music, traditions, folklore, writing, history, architecture, archaeology, archives and so much more. It is also a sign of the strength of the sector, the depth of knowledge people have and their generosity in sharing that knowledge.
“Many of the events are volunteer led, organised by dedicated people who seek no recompense or adulation. We must never take these people for granted and I will continue unapologetically to mention them at every opportunity, such is their importance not only to National Hertiage Week, but to the preservation of Irish heritage in general.”
Two themed days will take place during National Heritage Week. On Saturday 24th of August, Wild Child Day encourages children and families to explore the heritage in their locality. On Sunday, 25th of August, the Heritage Council and the Local Authority Waters Programme invite people to explore National Heritage Week projects that celebrate water and our connections with it.