Ireland is celebrating its unique natural heritage in style this year as the annual Heritage Week begins with events around the country spread over nine days from 18-26 August.
Co-ordinated by The Heritage Council, National Heritage Week highlights the abundance of great work that is carried out in all communities in Ireland to preserve and promote our natural, built and cultural heritage. The best go forward to receive a National Heritage Award: winners for 2017 included The Great Irish Garden, organised by Irish Seed Savers in Co. Clare. The garden, which highlights the amazing diversity and heritage of Ireland’s food crops, is opening its doors this year too on 26 August.
Throughout Ireland over 2000 homes, gardens and historic buildings take part. This year is European Year of Cultural Heritage, too, so the emphasis is on highlighting Ireland’s sense of belonging to a common European space. The theme, ‘Make a Connection’, aims to deepen the connection between people and heritage through sharing stories.
Among gardens and nature reserves staging special events for Heritage Week are the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland in Dublin, with a tour exploring philosophy in the garden and an exhibition showcasing 360 million-year-old fossils from Kiltorcan Quarry in Co. Kilkenny, among other events.
You can find out more about the Colclough Walled Garden at Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford, or visit the Irish Wildflower Garden at Altamont Gardens in Co. Carlow. Peek behind the gates and find out what’s growing at allotment site open days in Season Park Farm, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, and at the Kilkenny Allotments in Kilkenny City; or go on a bat walk through Merlin Park Woods in Co. Galway. And there are many more historic gardens open to wander around: visit the Heritage Week website at www.heritageweek.ie for details of events near you.
