Calling All Heritage Week Event Organisers

The County Donegal Heritage Office is inviting all this year’s Heritage Week event organisers in the county to a launch event for National Heritage Week in the County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny at 1pm on Thursday, August 1. Event organisers will be able to collect National Heritage Week-branded merchandise free-of-charge at the event.  Food and light refreshments will be served.  Attendees can also enjoy the ‘Life Through The Lens’ exhibition which showcases the work of former Donegal News photographer Declan Doherty.  The images featured in this exhibition were taken all over County Donegal and reflect his work as a press photographer and his personal work.

National Heritage Week takes place from Saturday, August 17 until Sunday, August 25 this year.  There are three themed days.  New this year is Heritage Open Day that takes place on Saturday, August 17 and invites civic and historic properties to open their doors for public access.  Wild Child Day takes place on Saturday, August 24 and encourages children and families to make the most of the outdoors to enjoy and explore the heritage and biodiversity in their locality.  Water Heritage Day takes place on Sunday, August 25 and celebrates Ireland’s water, our connections with it and how our history and heritage has been shaped by the sea, rivers, lakes and wetlands. 

“There are more than 80 events organised for Heritage Week in County Donegal to date” said Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer.  “The Heritage Week programme in County Donegal is shaping up thanks to the work of people from heritage organisations, community groups, museums, heritage centres and the Culture Division, Donegal County Council.  At the lunchtime event in the County Museum on Thursday, August 1, event organisers can collect a limited supply of National Heritage Week-branded merchandise free-of-charge that includes high-visibility vests, t-shirts, large flags, small flags, bunting and hats.”

This year's theme is ‘Connections, Routes & Networks’ and celebrates how we connect to each other and the links between people and communities.  These connections could be physical routes such as roads, paths, rivers, pilgrim paths and rail tracks.  They symbolise journeys undertaken for farming, trade, discovery and seeking new adventures.  There are a variety of activities planned to include built heritage open houses, traditional skills demonstrations, guided walks, heritage site visits, field trips, exhibitions, illustrated walks, workshops, nature displays, garden tours, commemorative and launch events, historical re-enactments, storytelling, genealogy events, traditional music, children’s activities and much more. 

More information on all events taking place across the county, some of which require booking taking, can be found on the National Heritage Week website .

The County Donegal Heritage Office will compile a County Heritage Week Event Guide to be published in local newspapers.  If you are planning an event for Heritage Week, please contact the County Donegal Heritage Office by e-mail at heritage@donegalcoco.ie or by telephone at (074) 916 3824.