Heritage News and Events

The support of our National Institutions, State Agencies, Community Groups and all heritage enthusiasts is vital to the success of the Week. Each year National Heritage Week grows bigger and better and with your help the Heritage Council aims to ensure that 2011 is no different! The week not only provides opportunities to promote Irelands off the beaten track treasures, but also to increase visitor numbers to heritage sites, museums, galleries, parks, gardens and buildings of historical interest.  

New in 2011: This year we’re kicking off the week with National Tell Tale Day. On Saturday the 20th of August we’re asking all age groups to join together in the great Irish tradition of story telling.  Stories bring an added dimension to our places and help ground us in a time of change. They enrich our lives and help connect us through time to our diverse landscapes and historic sites. National Heritage Week is about who we are and where we’ve come from and we’re especially encouraging everyone to tell a story that connects them and others with a place that has a particular resonance/meaning in their lives.

We ask all Event Organisers to support National Tell Tale Day and include a storytelling dimension to events. Although the 20th of August is officially National Tell Tale Day you can host your event on any other day during the week that suits. To support National Tell Tale Day we’ll be launching a National Tell Tale Story Telling Competition in early July, so keep your eye on www.heritageweek.ie for updates.

Key Messages: Central to all our communications are the key messages of emphasising the benefits of protecting our Heritage, encouraging ‘doing’ by promoting active participation in Heritage through learning a new skill; taking part in a new activity; volunteering in the community or joining a local heritage society.

Types of Events: All types of Heritage events and subjects are welcome during National Heritage Week; from céilí’s to bat walks, theatre events and archaeological digs. We’d especially appreciate it if your events are interactive, involve active participation and ‘doing’, are child friendly and encourage storytelling or outdoor activity. 

 Full information can be found on www.heritageweek.ie We hope you will join us once again in being a part of the Week and making 2011 the biggest and most successful National Heritage Week yet.

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