Heritage Council invites nominations from Offaly event organisers for National Heritage Week Awards

THE Heritage Council has announced details of this year’s National Heritage Week Awards, inviting nominations from all event organisers in Offaly. Every year, the Heritage Council seeks nominations for individuals or groups of people who showcased successful heritage projects and hosted engaging events during the festival.

Among the nominees last year were Ballycumber Tidy Towns who were runners up in the Wild Child Award category for their event, entitled River Brosna Heritage Fest, which featured a citizen science sampling event in the river with a catchment scientist inviting children to participate. Included in the award categories is a county award which recognises the best heritage project in each county.

In 2023, Bracknagh Heritage won the Offaly award for their event which brought people to the historical site of St Brochan’s Well and monastery. The celebration included the reinstatement of a statue of St Brochan and the planting of whitethorn trees in keeping with the tradition of each tree representing one of the twelve apostles. (pictured below)

This year’s National Heritage Week Awards will comprise the county awards, as well as a number of special categories, namely:

Connections, Routes and Networks Award

The Connections, Routes and Networks Award is awarded to an event that made a special effort to incorporate the 2024 theme of National Heritage Week - Connections, Routes and Networks.

Wild Child Event Award

The Wild Child Event Award Is awarded to an event that happened on Wild Child Day, 24th August 2024, that successfully encouraged children and families to get outdoors and explore the natural heritage and biodiversity in their locality.

Water Heritage Day Award (In conjunction with the Local Authority Waters Programme)

The Water Heritage Award is awarded to a Water Heritage Day event, held on 25th August 2024. Events considered include those that explored how a canal, river, lake or sea shaped the heritage of a locality or celebrated water as an integral part of our natural heritage.

Inclusive Heritage Award

The Inclusive Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made a special effort to share heritage with everyone in the community, including those who are:

new to heritage

those who do not have local roots

those who have additional accessibility needs

those of varying age categories

Irish Language Award

The Irish Language Award is awarded to an event that took place through the Irish Language and/or encouraged participation or activity in the Irish language.

Sustainability and Climate Award

The Sustainability and Climate Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that made efforts to incorporate environmentally friendly practices to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the natural world, or an event that provided education on the impact of climate change and good sustainability practices.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Award – The Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Award

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Award is awarded to an event or project that encouraged a greater appreciation of an element of our intangible cultural heritage - crafts, skills, customs and practices.

Heritage Hero Award

Every year the Heritage Council awards the Heritage Hero Award to an individual or organisation that has demonstrated – over a substantial period of time – an outstanding contribution to the protection and promotion of heritage. This award is based on nominations from the public.

County Award

In addition to the National Awards (above), the Heritage Council also gives a "County Award" to the best event or project in each local authority area as nominated. This award is based on how well the event or project raised awareness about an element of heritage and how they promoted the event and involved the community.

All participants who successfully upload a heritage project on the National Heritage Week website by Tuesday 24th of September 2024 will be considered for a National Heritage Week Award. Projects will be assessed on the basis of their local reach and community engagement, educational value and the level to which they involve different age groups.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 15th 2024 at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin.