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From:Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan, TD, is encouraging people across Ireland to get involved in the many events taking place as part of National Heritage Week 2026 between Saturday 15 and Sunday 23 August.

More than 2,500 events will celebrate every aspect of Ireland’s rich heritage and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is proud to showcase of our natural, built and cultural heritage at events all around the country.

Now in its 26th year, National Heritage Week, an initiative of the Heritage Council, is expected to attract more than half a million participants. It encourages communities to engage with their past and reminds them of the importance of protecting our shared heritage. This year’s theme,Heritage at Risk, invites people to consider elements of heritage that are vulnerable or under threat, from historic buildings and archaeological sites to natural habitats, rare species, traditional skills, folklore, language and ways of life.

Speaking about Heritage Week, the Minister said:

“There’s a fantastic selection of events taking place for National Heritage Week.Visit one of our national parks, such as Glenveagh in Donegal where you can enjoy music and traditional crafts as well as learning about biodiversity and taking part in guided walks. You can learn real practical traditional building skills at workshops around the country. Communities will celebrate their local waterways around at events such as ‘The River Remembers: Stories of Salmon and Stewardship on the Coomhola River’, in Cork.

National Heritage Week is really a celebration of the passion, creativity and commitment of thousands of volunteers, and heritage champions across Ireland. Their dedication brings to life our shared stories, traditions and places and inspires people to connect with our rich heritage.

Our heritage is woven into every community and includes our historic buildings, monuments, National Parks, and waterways.National Heritage Week is a great reminder to explore, learn about their stories and understand why we need to protect them.”

This year there are over sixty events organised by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with opportunities to learn more about native species, sensitive habitats and the vital work being undertaken to protect them. Events will highlight conservation efforts in National Parks and Nature Reserves, showcase the importance of our native woodlands, meadows, grasslands and dunes, and provide opportunities to discover pollinators, wildflowers and other aspects of Ireland’s rich natural heritage.

They include guided walks led by NPWS Conservation Rangers, demonstrations, and educational activities, from sheep shearing of Claddagh heritage breeds in Connemara, to pop-up coastal trail events in Mayo and a Junior Rangers event in Glengarriff.

Heritage Week will also shine a light on many of Ireland’s National Monuments though a diverse with a range of events organised by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which oversees manage the visitor experience at many monuments nationwide. Visitors can enjoy events at locations such as Meath’s Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Rathgall Hillfort in West Wicklow, Céide Fields Visitor Centre in Mayo, Charles Fort Military Fortress in Cork and Ferns Castle in Wexford.

Highlights from the National Built Heritage Service’s programme include a talk on ‘The Curious World of Ireland’s Follies’ in Waterford’s Mount Congreve house and practical workshops in Meath, Wexford, Clare and Wicklow exploring on traditional skills such as lime mortar, historic timber windows, vernacular farm buildings and dry stone wall construction.

The River Basin Management Service provided grants for community-led events and initiatives to celebrate local water heritage and promote awareness of water quality on Water Heritage Day Sunday 23 August.

Events taking place around the country include a citizen science training event hosted by Kilteevan Tidy Towns on Sunday, 23 August, focusing on local waters and their protection. In Dundalk, Friends of the Earth will lead a Ramparts River Walk at 12 noon on Saturday, 22 August, exploring the river's history and future. A Pond Workshop in Marley Grange, Dublin, at 5.30pm on Thursday, 20 August, will explain the importance of ponds and offer practical advice on how to create them.

Full details of available events right around the country are available atNational Heritage Week 2026.