National Heritage Week - Get involved!
National Heritage Week takes place this year across Ireland from August 15-23. It is co-ordinated by the Heritage Council and is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and Cavan County Council.
This annual event celebrates all aspects of Ireland’s heritage, encouraging communities, families, cultural institutions, academics, and heritage enthusiasts. It encourages them to engage with our heritage, thereby creating awareness of our heritage and the importance of conserving and managing local heritage.
In Cavan, our natural and cultural heritage will be celebrated through a wide range of events organised by local communities and organisations.
This year, due to COVID-19 related restrictions on social gatherings, the Heritage Council is inviting communities around the country to undertake projects that explore a topic associated with this year’s theme – ‘Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage’.
There are three sub-themes that can be explored: ‘Heritage on Your Doorstep’, ‘ Relearning Skills From Our Heritage’ and ‘The Heritage of Education’, that communities and individuals are invited to explore and share with the wider community on heritageweek.ie and the Cavan Heritage Office social media channels.
Speaking ahead of this year’s event, Anne-Marie Ward, heritage officer for Cavan County Council said: “Heritage Week is an important event in the calendar, it offers individuals and communities the opportunity to showcase their local heritage and serves to foster a sense of place and pride in that place.
“This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is less emphasis on individual events, and we are encouraging people to explore their locality more and to share what they have discovered. I am delighted and encouraged by the way in which individuals and local communities have adapted to the changed format this year of National Heritage Week.”
A number of fascinating projects and virtual events have already been lined up for Cavan. They range from exploring historic graveyards, meditating in nature at Jampa Ling, wildlife teddy bear workshops from Bear Essentials, virtual tours, exploring our boglands and many more.
Small gatherings, workshops and walks can also be organised, provided they adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.
More information
More information on National Heritage Week 2020 can be found by visiting www.heritageweek.ie or contacting Anne-Marie Ward amcurley@cavanheritage.ie.
You can also follow @Cavan_Heritage on Twitter or search for Cavan Heritage on Facebook.
Pic above: Local historian Séamus Ó hUltacháin showcasing the heritage of Cavan Burren – pointing out ancient rock carvings – during a previous Heritage Week. This year’s Heritage Week takes place from August 15-23, with a greater focus on online events.