The past 18 months have been challenging for all of us, but one of the positive outcomes has been a renewed interest and appreciation of our national heritage. At the Heritage Council, we have observed that people developed a greater appreciation of their place and that restraints imposed by lockdowns allowed a renewed focus on the heritage on their doorstep.
The idea that our national heritage is limited to “ruins, old buildings and important manuscripts” – very valuable as these often are – has long been obsolete. The Heritage Act (1995) casts our understanding of heritage very widely. Under the Act, the definition of heritage includes “monuments, archaeological objects, heritage objects, architectural heritage, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens, and parks and inland waterways”.
Over 25 years, there has been a remarkable and progressive understanding of the word heritage. For example, the high profile of the natural world, in the context of heritage, was not widely shared a quarter of a century ago. According to early research by the Heritage Council, which was established by the Act, only 3 per cent of Irish people associated the environment with natural heritage in 2000. Our more recent surveys show that figure rising significantly, to 41 per cent.
The past year has been good for the Heritage Council. The Council has had its budget increased by 45 per cent. In addition, a number of new staff have been appointed to key areas as part of an ambitious programme of activities. We wish to increase our focus on supporting community heritage, public history and citizen engagement. Initiatives like National Heritage Week have resulted in a dramatic shift in awareness about heritage and how we, as a society, engage with it.
National Heritage Week is one of Ireland's largest cultural festivals. Led by communities, groups and even families, the public is given the chance to define and celebrate the heritage that matters most to them. During the week, people from the four corners of Ireland take ownership of their heritage and celebrate it.
The 2021 theme for National Heritage Week was Open the Door to Heritage.
In order to stimulate diversification, new categories such as Heritage Newcomers, for those who have not participated to date, and Heritage Sharing, for communities or individuals who may not yet feel included, were created. We sought to reach out to both older and younger people and new communities. And it has worked. In total, 1,055 projects can be viewed on the National Heritage Week website, by logging on to the website heritageweek.ie.
Projects such as Pavee Roads Home explores Traveller culture and heritage, through the lens of history and geography. It charts the journey of three Traveller families from the west of Ireland to Dublin City, showing how this community has contributed to life in Ireland and abroad.
The project Currachs Past, Currachs Future reveals the tradition, history and folklore surrounding currachs on the banks of the Boyne. It offered visitors a chance to help to carve a currach paddle.
Another standout project was the Phoenix Cricket Club: Heritage and History. This offered a chance to learn more about Ireland’s oldest sporting club, the Phoenix Cricket Club, including the colour and characters it has accumulated over the centuries. This unique sporting and cultural treasure was founded in 1830 by John Parnell, father of Charles Stewart Parnell.
In addition, two themed days took place during National Heritage Week. Wild Child Day encouraged children and families to explore heritage in their locality and Water Heritage Day was dedicated to celebrating water and our connections with it.
National Heritage Week is a community and citizen-led festival. Its coordination on the ground is supported by the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network. Other partners include the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, RTÉ, The Irish Times, the Irish Landmark Trust, Fáilte Ireland, the Office of Public Works, and our colleagues across the heritage sector.
National Heritage Week 2021 has been a huge success, and the Heritage Council plans to build on this in 2022 and in future years.
All involved with the council are especially appreciative of the wide public support for its work, reflected in an array of initiatives and activities. By preserving the legacy of our past, we can better build for our future.