Ireland has recently announced its traditional list of outstanding individuals, organisations and programmes that made the greatest contribution to national heritage preservation and promotion.

Every year, within National Heritage Week, the Heritage Council acknowledges exceptional efforts towards raising awareness about national heritage, its conservation and future management in four categories: Heritage Hero Award, Hidden Heritage Award, Heritage Communities Award and Cool for Kids Award. Heritage devotees from all over the country set the bar higher each year when it comes to creative ways to promote cultural, built and natural treasures, as well as to inspire ongoing interest with fellow citizens of all ages.

Meet the 2017 Heritage Hero

For Sharon Slater, winner of the Heritage Hero Award, historic research of her hometown – Limerick has been a lifetime infatuation. As she stated in an interview for Limerick Reader: “Limerick history has been my passion for such a long time that I cannot remember when I wasn't interested in it.”

The historian’s commitment to research, preservation, and highlighting of Limerick’s rich cultural history is seen in her vigorous work on books on Limerick’s history, Limerick’s heritage devoted website, and in her involvement in a vast number of local events and project that support local heritage sustaining.

Discover Irish Hidden Heritage

In order to make people aware of a bit less familiar aspect of Irish heritage, Irish Seed Savers, the winner of the Hidden Heritage Award, organised The Great Irish Garden event. The goal was to remind of the wonderful diversity and uniqueness of Ireland’s food crops. The event was organised within Heritage Week 2017, gathering gardeners and nature enthusiasts for a day of talks, tours, and food tastings.

Outstanding Community Involvement

An awareness-raising Donegal event titled The Foyle: Tales of Salmon Fishing has brought a 2017 Heritage Communities Award to a collaboration of Wild Strands and Men’s Shed. By portraying the tradition of wild salmon fishing on the River Foyle, the award winning team has succeeded in saving this important aspect of local heritage from fading into oblivion.

Moreover, the project has inspired future efforts towards recording and celebrating the fishing tradition. Joseph Gallagher, Heritage Officer for Donegal County praised the commitment and drive of the local heritage communities in a post-award interview:

"The National Heritage Awards recognise the interest, commitment and enthusiasm that local people and heritage groups have for their heritage.”

Involving the Young

BirdWatch Ireland are a 2017 winners of Cool for Kids Award. With their Go Wild Nature Camps, they have succeeded in making a heritage week themes appealing to the curious and adventurous nature of children. The youngest had an exciting opportunity to learn more about their environment and nature around them, gaining knowledge and experiences that will help them better understand their natural heritage.

Ireland's Heritage Stories for 2018

Being the European Year of Cultural Heritage, 2018 presents another great chance for Ireland’s heritage enthusiasts to showcase their national heritage treasure within a common, European cultural space. The theme for Ireland - “Make a Connection” is planned to be incorporated in the Heritage Week concept “Sharing Stories” that will allow for unique, Ireland-based heritage testimonies to be told in a way that creates a connection to a shared, European heritage experience.

What is more, this remarkable idea from Ireland served as an inspiration for a pan-European pilot within European Heritage Days - Sharing European Heritage Stories. As a way of celebrating the European Year of Cultural Heritage and its main theme – The art of sharing, the project encourages people of all ages to share their inspiring heritage experiences that relates to some of the most important European Heritage Days themes. The applications can be submitted by 20 May 2018 and more information about the project can be found on the call for European Heritage Stories page.  

Photo credits:

heritageweek.ie
pixabay.com