'Exploring our Foundations' is theme of Heritage Week 2025

Over 100 events across Meath from 16th to 24th August

National Heritage Week kicks off this Saturday 16th August, and is on track to feature a record number of events across the island of Ireland - many of which are free - with more than 400,000 attendees expected.

This year’s celebration is particularly significant, marking 30 years since the establishment of The Heritage Council and 20 years since it took responsibility for coordinating National Heritage Week.

With support from partners such as the OPW, Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Landmark Trust and the Local Authority Waters Programme, National Heritage Week has grown to be the largest nationwide celebration of heritage annually. Twenty years ago, in 2005 there were 260 events, and last year there were more than 2,300 events. Awareness about the importance of protecting heritage has increased significantly during this time, with research commissioned by The Heritage Council showing an increase from 46 per cent in 1999 to 68% in 2023.

The theme of Heritage Week this year is Exploring Our Foundations, inviting members of the public to delve into the building blocks of our heritage; not just the structures, but the landscapes and cultural activities that have shaped us. Events will be held in every county across the island of Ireland spanning built, cultural and natural heritage, many of them free to attend and suitable for all ages.

Heritage Open Doors, which has been running in Cork for the last 20 years, has been extended across the island of Ireland this year for the first time. On Saturday August 16th and Sunday August 17th, the initiative will provide a rare opportunity to access buildings not normally open to the public, including private homes, civic and public buildings including courthouses, religious buildings and commercial buildings.

While the majority of events are suitable for all ages and family friendly, Wild Child Day takes place on August 23rd, with a special focus on events designed to encourage kids and families to explore the heritage in their locality and beyond. Water Heritage Day takes place on August 24th, in partnership with Local Authority Waters Programme, celebrating water throughout Ireland, its history and heritage and our connections with it.

A flavour of the events taking place around the country was on display at the launch of National Heritage Week this morning. A launch event in City Assembly House on South William Street - which is home to the Irish Georgian Society and will be hosting daily tours throughout Heritage Week - was attended by the Fingal Mummers in their distinctive traditional straw hats and costumes, members of ‘Fragarach’ Medieval Armoured Combat, named after mythical Irish swords, and the Rediscovery Centre which will be running workshops about Ireland’s biodiversity, ecosystems, food webs, and animals.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said; “National Heritage Week is a true celebration of what connects us — to each other, to our communities, and to our past. It’s a festival that brings Ireland’s heritage to life in all its rich variety — from biodiversity to buildings, from oral traditions to waterways — and invites people of every age and background to take part. As Minister for Nature, Biodiversity and Heritage, I’m proud to support an initiative that continues to grow year on year, and I encourage everyone to explore their foundations by joining one of the thousands of events happening across the island this week.”

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council said; “This is a special year for The Heritage Council as we celebrate 20 years coordinating National Heritage Week, as well as 30 years since our establishment. It’s heartening to see the importance of heritage embraced more broadly and enthusiastically each year. It plays such a fundamental role in our social, environmental & economic well-being. Our heritage is something that we share with our ancestors as well as future generations. It’s what makes us special, and it’s also something that is evolving all the time, as Ireland is. It’s a precious connection with where we live, and with each other.

“The dedication of organisations, voluntary groups and individuals in every county, together with the network of Heritage Officers in the local authorities, is what makes this national celebration so special and such a success every year and we encourage everyone to get involved, and to explore their foundations in some of the fascinating activities planned throughout the week,” she said.

Meath County Council Heritage officer Loreto Guinan, said: “Heritage Week in Meath is all about our connection to local places, memories and the traditions that continue to shape who we are. This year’s theme, Exploring Our Foundations, feels especially relevant in Meath as our county is layered with deep history, strong communities, and a living landscape that has long been at the heart of Ireland’s story. Throughout the week, you might find yourself watching a Boyne currach being built by hand, celebrating 175 years of Navan’s railway, weaving baskets the old way, or wandering through hedgerows with a local expert. There are re-enactments and medieval armour at Trim Castle, nature walks in the Boyne Valley, and biodiversity talks on bogs, butterflies, and the hidden life beneath the waves off our coast. In true Meath fashion, it’s also a celebration of community spirit, whether it’s through folklore-inspired theatre, crafts for all ages, or guided tours that bring towns like Kells, Athboy and Oldcastle and Slane to life. Heritage Week here isn’t just about looking back, it’s about recognising the people, skills, stories and places that continue to root us in our shared identity.”

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has an exciting programme of events taking place at heritage sites across Ireland for Heritage Week 2025.

From family fun days and living history displays to music, workshops, and guided tours, the 2025 programme features engaging events at OPW sites nationwide, with activities for all ages and interests.

Launching this initiative, the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Moran said: This year’s National Heritage Week theme ‘Exploring Our Foundations’ is very fitting with the range of conservation projects that the OPW has undertaken in recent times.

"Our sites offer a rich tapestry of events that have approached the theme from a number of perspectives, including the community, biodiversity and conservation. With over 100 events on offer for the duration of Heritage Week, and our free admission day on Saturday 16th August, there is something for everyone to enjoy."

Highlights of OPWs National Heritage Week Programme include:

Embark on a Local Link to the Past and use your Local Link ticket to gain free entry to sites on the Local Link network. Participating sites include Doneraile Court and Estate, The Rock of Cashel, The Glendalough and Clonmacnoise Monastic Sites and Visitor Centres, Portumna Castle and Gardens, Sligo Abbey, Donegal Castle, Charles Fort, Ennis Friary, Ionad an Bhlascaoid – the Blasket Centre.

Glendalough Visitor Centre will host a Family Fun Day, featuring guided tours of the monastic site, LEGO workshops with renowned artist Jessica Farrell, a simulated archaeological dig with The School of Irish Archaeology, and natural fence building with Wicklow Willow.

Ross Castle in Co Kerry offers a special historical tour as well as guided nature walks on Ross Island exploring Bronze Age mining and biodiversity.

Battle of the Boyne – Oldbridge Estate will come alive with Laoch Living History performances, recreating 17th-century military life, blacksmithing, and more. Events culminate in a costumed battlefield walk with historian Tóla Collier.

Sligo Abbey hosts a rich cultural line-up including 'Art in the Abbey' (a charcoal drawing event), musical performances by The Cloister Boys, and a talk and live music session with acclaimed musician and historian Gregory Daly.

Ballyhack Castle in Wexford will transform into a medieval hub with shield-making workshops and live archery demonstration from Arrows Away Archery.

JFK Arboretum will present multiple interactive family events, including the “Books Among Trees” pop-up library experience, 3D printing & LEGO robotics, and a clay workshop with potter Laura Barry that blends nature and creativity.

At Charles Fort Military Fortress in Cork, visitors can enjoy a pair of illustrated talks: The Kinsale Railway Line: Past and Present” by Cathal Deasy and “Seamus Breathnach – Cultural Nationalist” by Pádraig Walsh, each taking place in the atmospheric Gunpowder Magazine.

In Waterford, Reginald’s Tower explores naval visitors to the city over the past century, while Dungarvan Castle hosts a talk on the Waterford to Mallow Railway and its wartime history.

At Custom House Visitor Centre, events include an interactive children’s tour and architecture workshop, and a special "Foundations" Tour, exploring the building's pivotal role in shaping Ireland's political and social landscape.

Irish language tours will be available at numerous OPW sites across the country including Doneraile Court, Co. Cork, Trim Castle, Co. Meath, Emo Court, Co. Laois and several Dublin locations such as Kilmainham Gaol, Casino Marino, The Phoenix Park, and Castletown House and Parklands.

Visit heritageireland.ie for more details.