Donegal’s Paula Harvey named asCounty Ireland’s 2025 Heritage Hero

The Heritage Council has today announced Paula Harvey as its 2025 Heritage Hero, ahead of the annual National Heritage Awards ceremony taking place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, tomorrow, Friday.

The award is one of eight to be presented at the ceremony, which celebrates outstanding National Heritage Week events and projects from across the country. This year’s Heritage Week was the biggest yet, with over 2,500 events and 400,000 people taking part nationwide in August.

The award honours an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding, long-term contribution to the protection and promotion of Ireland’s heritage. Unlike the other categories, this award is based solely on public nominations and is considered a lifetime achievement award.

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A pioneering archaeologist, curator, and community leader, Paula Harvey has dedicated more than four decades to preserving and celebrating Ireland’s heritage. Originally from Carlow, Paula began her career as an archaeologist in the early 1980s and served as Field Monument Officer with Donegal County Council, where she worked on the protection and interpretation of archaeological monuments throughout the county.

She then went on to become the first curator of Donegal County Museum, an institution she helped to establish with the County Council. Her vision and determination ensured that the county’s stories, artefacts, and traditions were properly recorded and shared with the public for the first

One of Paula’s key achievements came in 2015, when St Conall’s Bell and Shrine returned to Donegal for the first time in more than 150 years. Dating from the 6th and 11th centuries and held in the British Museum since 1889, Paula led the public engagement programme surrounding the artefacts, helping local people understand their significance and encouraging the community to visit and connect with them at Donegal County Museum and the Dolmen Centre.

In 2016, Paula founded the Donegal GAP Heritage and History Group, a community-led initiative dedicated to preserving Doon Fort, one of Ireland’s most spectacular heritage sites. Situated on a small island in Loughadoon just outside Ardara, the large drystone fort is thought to have been the residence of the O’Boyle Chieftains, with origins that may date from the late Iron Age to Early Medieval times. The fort, classified as a Western Stone Fort with thick enclosing walls, had fallen into disrepair despite work undertaken in 1954, and sections of the walls were at risk from vegetation and natural decay.

Under Paula’s leadership, the group worked closely with landowner Josie McHugh and joined the Heritage Council’s Adopt A Monument Scheme, securing funding to commission an environmental and conservation report, carry out a geophysical survey, and begin the conservation of the walls with guidance from the National Monuments Service. The group also organised training and community engagement events, exploring the tourism potential of the area and raising awareness of the fort’s historic and cultural significance.

A key highlight of this work was the 2019 Creative Ireland mural project, in which Paula and artist Seán Ó Brógáin collaborated with local schools to create a striking public artwork celebrating Doon Fort’s history. The mural continues to connect the local community with their heritage while also drawing visitors to the site, demonstrating how professional expertise combined with grassroots action can safeguard and celebrate Ireland’s heritage for generations to come.

Through her combination of professional expertise and grassroots activism, Paula has shown how heritage can unite people and strengthen a sense of place.

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, congratulated Paula on her award stating; “Paula Harvey represents the very best of Ireland’s heritage community. She is deeply knowledgeable, passionate, and rooted in the belief that heritage belongs to everyone. Her leadership in Donegal has preserved precious parts of our national story, from artefacts like St Conall’s Bell to remarkable sites like Doon Fort. She has inspired generations to see heritage not as something distant, but as something living and shared. This award is a fitting recognition of her extraordinary contribution.”

Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, added; “Every year, we see remarkable people doing vital work to protect and promote our shared heritage, but Paula Harvey stands out for the longevity and impact of her contribution. She has combined professional expertise with an extraordinary ability to engage her community in her interest. Through her vision, energy, and commitment, she has helped ensure that Donegal’s heritage, and by extension, Ireland’s heritage, is in safe hands. We are honoured to recognise her as our 2025 Heritage Hero.”

Paula Harvey, recipient of the 2025 Heritage Hero Award, said; “I couldn’t believe it when I was told I won this year’s award. I see it as recognition for everyone who has worked alongside me over the years. Heritage is about people, it’s about connection, belonging, and shared responsibility.

From the early days at Donegal County Museum to our work at Doon Fort, I’ve been privileged to see what can happen when communities come together. I love this work so much that it never feels like work, and that’s why I’ve been so passionate about it for all these years. This award is for everyone who has been part of the journey as much as it is for me.”