After two years in a digital format, National Heritage Week, one of Ireland’s largest annual cultural events, is making a full return this year.
During the pandemic years, the event saw record breaking participation across the country, but this year’s event, which commences on Saturday, August 13th and runs until Sunday, August 21st, makes a welcome return to an in-person event.
The week is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union, with more than 40 countries taking part.
This year’s theme is sustainable heritage and biodiversity and organisers have compiled over one thousand events all across the country to celebrate our built, natural and cultural heritage.
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Taking place in every corner of the country, events are free. If there is any cost (such as parking or materials) this is outlined in the website, which is divided by county so you can see events taking place in your area. Some highlights that may be of interest to readers of these pages include:
1. Antiques trail at the National Gallery and River God Tour at the Custom House in Dublin
For lovers of period furniture, the National Gallery of Ireland on Merrion Square is holding a fascinating antiques trail, including some of the Milltown silver. In 1901 the Countess of Milltown gifted over 200 pictures, books, silver and furniture to the gallery, which was so substantial a new extension was built to accommodate the largesse.
Recently immortalised by Mayo sculptor Rory Breslin in his Masks of the Liffey series, the original carvings of river gods are on Dublin’s 18th century Custom House. The keystone sculptures by Edward Smyth were commissioned by architect James Gandon to personify Ireland’s river gods, in what is considered to be Gandon’s finest work. When complete, the architect compared Smyth’s work on The Custom House to that of Michael Angelo.
Dating to pre-Christian times, when rivers were considered the border between the supernatural and the real worlds, a daily expert guided tour will focus on the symbolism, history and mythology associated with these twelve marvellous heads.
2. Franciscan Friary tours in Ennis
In Clare, there will be guided and self-guided tours of one of Ireland’s oldest Franciscan friaries housing a wealth of 15th and 16th century sculptures carved in local limestone. Burial place of the ancient kings of Clare, it was founded by the O’Brien’s of Thomond, a family that ruled most of north Munster. It quickly grew, and by 1375 the school had 600 pupils and 350 friars. It was also the last school of Catholic theology to survive the Reformation.
3. Irish sign language tour of Glendalough monastic site
Another important monastic site, the early Christian settlement at Glendalough dates from the 6th century and despite attacks from Vikings, thrived as one of the country’s most important foundations and schools of learning until it was destroyed by the Normans in 1214.
4. Ormond Castle Tours in Tipperary
Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir is the finest example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland, and today the castle will offer complimentary guided tours. Constructed in 1565 by the 10th Earl of Ormond, the great hall of the Tudor gem has some of the finest stucco plasterwork work in the country. The Elizabethan style architecture was the first of its kind in Ireland, and sits adjacent to an older castellated structure dating from 1315.
5. Hall of the Red Earl in Galway
Dating back to the 13th century, a re-enactment at the Hall of the Red Earl will give visitors a glimpse in to medieval life at Druid Lane in Galway city. Based on real historical events during the de Burgo reign, the Red Hall which has origins dating back to the 1200′s, was the city’s municipal building, used for tax collection, banquets and judicial administration. Also taking place in the Custom House at Druid Lane is an exhibition by the Irish Patchwork Society on the themes of language, landscape and migration using diverse and innovative textile art techniques.
6. Ancient Music Ireland brings Archaeology of Life on the Hill of Tara
This exhibition and performance is by musicians Simon and Maria O’Dwyer, who have spent the past 30 years recreating musical instruments from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages to the early medieval period.
Music would have played a major role during ceremonies at Ireland’s prehistoric sites, and later Bronze Age horns and trumpets were discovered in pairs, which are believed to represent the male and the female. Over 104 horns have been discovered throughout Ireland and demonstrate the craftsmanship of our ancestors over 2,500 years ago.
While instruments such as the Iron Age Loughnashade Trumpet dating from 100BC and the Drumabest Horn from 700 BC are now housed in museums, Ancient Music Ireland has recreated these pieces using sheet bronze. Instruments from each period will be explained and played — with sounds that haven’t been heard for thousands of years.
7. The Mysteries of the Beltany Stone Circle, Raphoe, Co Donegal
Historian and archaeologist Mary Harte will explore the site of the Beltany Stone Circle, an enigmatic monument and one of the largest Bronze Age stone circles in Ireland — including a four kilogram hidden hoard of gold.
See heritageweek.ie for more events in your area
